The consequences of the increase in the number of children coming into care (the subject of the previous post) are all too clearly noted by BASW, as Community Care reports. Sue Kent, from BASW, is reported as describing services as crumbling under the pressure.
In the past I have heard ministers (not the present ones) and civil servants complain of front-line staff exaggerating their difficulties with caseloads. In this case there is ample objective evidence of the pressures. This is a great opportunity for Government to show its commitment to supporting the front-line by acknowledging the unprecedented increase in demand and putting some real additional resources behind child protection services.
