Recently there has been an inquiry into the hundreds of children abused while in care of Lambeth council.
The voice of the Independent Social Worker is but one in the process of decision-making for children within the Family Courts.
At Advanced CCA we ensure that all of our assessments are comprehensive and that issues of risk are thoroughly explored. A decision to recommend the removal of a child is never easy and we endeavour to keep families together and develop strategies that will safeguard children so that this can be achieved. We fully explore the concept of ‘parenting with support’ and interview professional and family networks that could mitigate against parenting deficits and risks. We aspire to make clear recommendations for work to be undertaken to improve parenting and insights to improve a child’s lived experiences and we encourage parents to engage with local resources to elevate their support networks.
Sadly, despite every effort to ensure that a child is brought up by their parents, there are circumstances where the risks to the child cannot be reduced and remain imminent. Recommendations are made with the belief that substitute care is a safer alternative for a child in those circumstances. Children can thrive within foster placements and Children’s Homes have proved to be hugely successful for children whose experiences have been so traumatic, they have lost trust in the primary carer role and cannot settle within a foster placement.
As professionals who have some responsibility for these decisions, we trust wholly in these establishments to offer children the safety and care that was absent for them within their early life. This is essential for their future wellbeing and healthy development. It is heart-breaking to learn of instances where children have suffered abuse from those who are entrusted to help them to heal from the scars of their childhood.
