Social work and safeguarding: promoting a positive approach

1. Social work and safeguarding: promoting a positive approach Nick Frost, n.frost@leedsmet.ac.uk Professor of Social Work (Childhood, children and families)

2. Michael Gove, 16.11.2012 • ‘I want to talk about child protection. Specifically, how we care for the most vulnerable children- those at risk of neglect or abuse – those who come into the care of others because their families cannot care for them. And I want to begin with an admission. The state is currently failing in its duty to keep our children safe.’

3. Edward Timpson, 16/4/2013 • “one of the most critical vehicles for learning lessons – good and bad – are Serious Case Reviews. Yet, until recently, all that was published were bland executive summaries. This certainly suited the adults who had made mistakes. But the price of sparing their blushes was paid by our most vulnerable children who were condemned to suffer from the same fallings, over and over again because we don’t learn vital lessons”

4. A positive approach • Challenge dominant discourse • ‘Heroes of their own lives’ (Linda Gordon) • Professionals and public service values • Commitment • Innovation

5. Pritchard and Williams, 2008 • What can be said with certainty? Over the period, the rates of actual and possible CARD have unequivocally declined in England and Wales and many MDC... looking at the overall results, most CPS in the MDC have some cause for cautious satisfaction about the progress being made.

6. NSPCC How safe are our children? 2014 The rate of child homicides has decreased by 29% from a five year average of 7.1 per million in 1981 to 5 per million in 2012/13

7. Child sexual exploitation • A complex and challenging social problem • A period of painful recognition • Creative multi-agency responses • Utilising a wide-range of methods • A real chance of beating child sexual exploitation

8. Positive social work • (My social worker) was amazing and came to my graduation. He hunted me down when I tried to disappear. He came with me to my interview at uni and when they said didn’t have enough UCAS points he asked if he could have a word. I don’t know what he said but I got into uni then! I’m still in contact with him now, he really went the extra mile. • (Clare, in care late 1990s and 2000s)

9. Concluding points • Be confident • Maintain our values • Re-invent and champion family support • Protect our service users • Work alongside other professionals • Be that ‘amazing’ social worker!