Agenda item

Children's Social Care Assessments - Pam Allen (Dac.26.07.2021/3)

Minutes:

Pam Allen, Interim Service Director, Children’s Social Care, was welcomed to the meeting.

 

Members were made aware of the Child Welfare Inequalities Project.  It was noted that over the past decade children’s social workers had focused on child protection and had not always taken into account the difficulties associated with poverty.   Of late the numbers of children subject to child protection plans had grown. These often featured factors such as alcohol or substance misuse, which were also associated with worklessness and poverty.

 

The project aimed to influence the thinking of social workers, increase their understanding of poverty, and promote reflective discussions to help understand the community.

 

Members noted that workshops had been held with social workers, and that the research resonated with staff.  Practical steps had included the changing of child protection templates to take account of poverty, and training arranged with partner agencies and BMBC departments to increase awareness of housing and benefits advice.  The support available to residents and families in the area was highlighted, and it was suggested that it would be useful for social workers to be aware. 

 

The cost of children being taken into care was discussed, as was the need to provide support packages to parents at an earlier time, which could lead to better outcomes and lower costs.

 

A suggestion was made for social workers to engage with those who had lived experiences of poverty to aid understanding. A number of Councillors agreed to volunteer their experiences.

 

Though this work did not have additional financial costs, it was acknowledged that there would be time implications, and the impact of this was discussed.  However, Members noted that there had been six additional social workers and six additional family support workers recruited in the past six months.  Also noted was the consultation on the national review of reforming social work and its potential impact.

 

Questions were raised in relation to statistics in the Dearne area, and it was noted that these could be circulated directly to Members.

 

Those present discussed the positive impact HomeStart services had previously provided, and the impact of peer support between parents was acknowledged.  A pilot to re-establish something similar this in the area was suggested.

 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

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