Children’s Services in Crisis

It has to be Fennel. Decimating children services including CAMHS and in todays budget finding magic money to put what they're called a mental health specialist in each school has my head spinning. Many schools had a counselling service alongside its designated safeguarding teacher. Along came the austerity approach and out went the counsellors as well as the possibility of support from CAMHS or children's services.

Is this crisis linked to the other headlines about the increase in mental health problems in children and young people?

oh for an edit button. I made a clear criticism of this governments policies in response to Anniebach's comments and so far, no one is disagreeing with my analysis of the ideology that has driven the devastation not only of children's services but of all our public services. I notice Mr Hammond disputed its ideology and sought again, to blame the last labour government for the financial crash.

I started this thread after reading a comment where anniebach said the politics threads seem less contentious recently, she wondered whether it was because some subjects were avoided.

Luckygirl, I understand your point about sabbaticals for those directly involved in specialist child protection work. I don't agree that a 5 year max would be helpful though, unless the worker themselves felt they'd given as much as they could and wanted to move into a different area of sw.
The experience and expertise that good cp sw's develop over the years are needed. Give them the opportunity to do some research, take a sabbatical, have a period in a different area of work but if we put a 5 year limit, we'd lose some excellent workers.

Like your idea of 5 yrs max at a time for SWs in children’s services, Lucky.
IMO breaking the vicious circle of children at risk also needs much more funding for addictions services - drugs and alcohol as prime causes of domestic violence and family breakdown.
Also adequate social housing of course.

There is nowhere to refer children to until they hit absolute rock bottom.
I do not know how anyone can work in CAMHS and maintain their own mental health it must be the most depressing job: not being able to put in early intervention because only the worst most desperate cases meet the threshold.

These children become broken adults so its a huge false economy to not have PREVENTATIVE services that can go in early

Morale is so low in social services departments.

Investment in children's services pays off, not only in the personal happiness of a child, but as a long term proposition for creating a more secure society.

I do not think that a SW should be asked to work in child protection for more than 5 years; and then have a sabbatical, either in another branch of SSD or on a beach. The daily grind of responsibility and witnessing of misery takes its toll, especially in an environment where funds have been slashed.

Governments place huge responsibilities on LAs, then take away the funding to do the job properly. What do they expect will happen?

In a nutshell Teetime.

All our public services are overburdened with bureaucracy, too many layers of managers and administrators and every new whacky management theory requiring reorganisation after reorganisation. Result rock bottom moral, high sickness rates, spiralling costs and reduced quality and outcomes.