RIP Baby Star Hobson

Everyone would be up in arms if it was suggested that young, academically trained social workers weren't up to the job, though, wouldn't they?
If someone dared to say that they lack life experience all hell would break loose.

Unfortunately, while people are busy being outraged by statements like that, the real victims are being battered to death.
Star died of a heart attack when her body could take no more.

A re-training programme is badly needed for both police and social services. They should be able to tell if someone is genuine or whether they're pulling the wool as they can't seem to get this right.
Over zealousness can backfire if/ when someone is genuine.

The main training in any social care setting is safeguarding.
It's drummed into staff at all times.
It is clear, and was said by the head of children's services on an interview a week or so ago. (Arthur case)
I'm not sure how many more ways it can be emphasised to staff.
There is something very, very wrong if they have failed to get the message.

MissAdventure

So how does any of this excuse reports of Star's abuse being dismissed as malicious?

Inexperienced social workers are easily manipulated and fed false information by some parents who are highly skilled at dealing with the system, having spent most of their lives in contact with it.

tickingbird

But hey! Let’s forget about the kids let’s get political! Sickening and a perfect illustration of all that’s wrong with SS and the uncaring, point scoring liberal left.

It isn't point scoring it's believing that as a society we all have responsibility for caring for the poorest the weakest and the most vulnerable, and we do that through paying taxes which pay for the support services needed. Cut those services and of course you increase the risk to children.
This is interesting reading
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/performance-tracker-2019/children-social-care

More younger less experienced social workers. More children at risk. An increase in the number of agency workers. It's a broken system.

MissAdventure

I'm not sure how lack of funding resulted in social services dismissing relatives concerns, calling them "malicious" and ignoring that they were told they would have another Baby P case on their hands.
I work in care, it's underfunded, but that doesn't absolve me of the responsibility to actually care and do my job properly when I am with someone.

?????
Nail on head.

No words…

So how does any of this excuse reports of Star's abuse being dismissed as malicious?

tickingbird

^But let's not forget that the Labour government always has to clear up the mess left by the Tories.^

Laughable if it wasn’t so serious. I think you’ll find it’s the other way round!

You only have to look at what a state education was in when Blair came to power. Schools with holes in the roof delapidated outdated buildings severely understaffed. Why? Because the Tories didn't want to spend money. The same process is happening now. Schools are just managing but everything is pared to the bone.
That's the mess left by small state Tories.

tickingbird, you've said it ! Well done.

It's easier for them to ostracise those who are an easy target than those who are likely to fall through the net !
My family are living proof of that.
For every " easy ride " there are children such as this little girl being ignored. Point-scoring is their aim, adoption a bonus !

Managing the risk involves remembering the basic tenet of care, which is your duty of care.
To report a risk.
It's that simple, it doesnt cost, and is as easy as writing out a statement detailing what has been said to you, or what you have seen.
It's a cop out to write it all off as lack of funding.
How can any investigation be done when things never get off the starting block in the first case?

Sick to the stomach---again, over yet another cold-blooded murder. This can't go on !
Poor poor gorgeous little child and the torture she endured.
At Peace x Heartbreaking.

This is just tragic and unforgiveable.

However, I am concerned about how social workers are being portrayed. There are many excellent members of staff who work tirelessly for the vulnerable in society. But they have so little back-up from managers, so few resources, so much red tape and legalities to negotiate when concerns are validly raised.

I fear few people will be willing to enter the profession until the higher management get their act together and provide a supportive environment - firstly and most importantly for those at risk, but also for the staff managing that risk.

But hey! Let’s forget about the kids let’s get political! Sickening and a perfect illustration of all that’s wrong with SS and the uncaring, point scoring liberal left.

And there you have it. I left the role of a children and families social worker, of which child protection played a key part, five years ago for the exact same reasons as highlighted by this article. Political correctness (akin to walking on eggshells) and the Neo-liberal dogma of welfare fiscal retrenchment adopted by local authorities of all colours, along with good old managerialsm, is the reason we are where we are at. Trust me there have been hundreds of Baby P's that go unreported and the truth of the matter is the system is broken, clapped out dead. I was even told I cared too much by a manager more worried about their contract being renewed come contract renegotiation time. My advice to anybody thinking of becoming a social worker, if you are not a robot don't do it because you will not be able to sleep at night. The day I left, I said if you spent as much energy as you do on adopting politically correct practise, we might have saved a few more kids.

Couldn’t agree more.

But let's not forget that the Labour government always has to clear up the mess left by the Tories.

Laughable if it wasn’t so serious. I think you’ll find it’s the other way round!

And nothing to do with the first people to receive a report that a child is being abused?
"Oh sorry, no money. Malicious report"

This is completely political and yes of course there were cruelty cases under a Labour government, But let's not forget that the Labour government always has to clear up the mess left by the Tories. Any real develpments in care and social services are then destroyed once again by small state Tories. Like the Sure Start initiative which dealt not only with children but with inadequate parents and the extended family. If you cut that, pare social services to the bone and cut all the public services involved in protecting children like education, the police, the NHS you leave vulnerable children exposed. There may always have been instances of cruelty, but so many in such a short period? I think not. Yes the abusers are monsters but it is society which is responsible for failing to protect these children and it is the years of Tory government that are responsible for that failure.

I'm not sure how lack of funding resulted in social services dismissing relatives concerns, calling them "malicious" and ignoring that they were told they would have another Baby P case on their hands.
I work in care, it's underfunded, but that doesn't absolve me of the responsibility to actually care and do my job properly when I am with someone.

It is heartbreaking.

Until the preventive services for children are properly funded then this will go on .... and on.

A 16 month old systematically abused by a nightclub bouncer/boxer.
Pair of bastards!!!

How shocking. Poor, poor little Star. A beautiful little girl at the hands of these psychotic monsters. Unbearable.
All referrals, once again, basically ignored.
What on earth is happening.
Rest in Peace sweet little soul.

So soon after Arthur and like him, baby Star had a coterie of extended family who loved her and would have cared for her, all the films and photos show a happy baby when she lived with them. As the grandad said about the mother's lover "descended from the bowels of hell" what an apt description. As in Arthur's case, grandparents and other members of the family not listened to, malicious meddling apparently. I even read the spurious claims of "homophobia" and "racism" could have been thrown in as a reason as to why Star was, in spite of that terrible bruise on her face and other injuries, to continue living with these two women. In both cases these cruel people filmed some of the brutality they inflicted on the poor little souls.

Just so heart breaking RIP Star.

Another case of child cuelty. Seems to me SS put the parents / carers before the child . The child must always be the priority, no ifs no buts and no mitigating circumstances - children should be removed from abusive parents immediately. Like many others I am sick to my stomach thinking about what these children have lived through. It beggers belief that people can be so cruel.

Kali2

And don't tell me this tragedy is NOT political- it is, 100%.

What about all the children who were tortured and murdered when other governments were in power?
Were they political 100%?

I agree that more funding is needed, the law needs to be changed to make sure the child's interests are paramount and social workers have better training so that they are not deceived by these monsters.

However, the bottom line is that these child torturers/murderers are evil.