What does Aspect think will come out of the Social Work Taskforce?
The Social Work taskforce was set up by Ed Balls, Children, Schools and Families Minister, as one of a number of responses to the Baby Peter tragedy. It followed the Laming Report The Protection of Children in England highlighting a range of more general concerns about social work practice. The Report, the Government’s response and the initial report of the Social Work Taskforce can all be found here . Although some of Laming’s recommendation struck a real chord with practitioners, there are concerns as to whether Laming adequately revisited the focus and training for child protection work. Aspect attends all meetings of the Social Work Taskforce Key Partners group and has submitted evidence which focussed on the crucial importance of staff being able to raise concerns, preferably through professional supervision, but if not, then in other ways in accordance with the staff duty of care and the GSCC Code of Practice. The Government’s response to the Laming Inquiry included some positive
