EVERY day across Scotland, social work professionals are weighing the balance of decisions that they know will affect the future wellbeing of those individuals who most need care and support.
That so many of those in need are children causes the kind of distress that demands solutions. In their frustration, it is almost automatic for commentators, politicians and even other professionals to round upon social workers and declare that they
must act.
It is an uncomfortable fact that social workers cannot guarantee the protection of every child. It is also true that the more people watching out for children, the more chances there are of the right help coming to them at the right time. We need to ask not just about the responsibilities and actions of social workers, health and police, but also raise questions about community responsibility.
Yesterday's HMIE report about child protection services raises important issues. But before we leap to the conclusion that there is a national crisis, we should remember that four out of five inspection reports into child protection have, on balance, been good. While there is never room for complacency, there are just as many risks associated with a knee-jerk response.
We must learn from the good practice that has emerged from reports such as the one on Perth and Kinross, published this month, where all indicators were between good and excellent. It also highlighted examples of innovation such as the process for screening whether an adult member of a household misuses drugs.
It is important also for us to learn from the best practice recognised in the SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council] care accolades. Dundee received a well-deserved accolade for its work with families using video feedback. Parents as consumers of this service talk powerfully of the positive impact.
Our priority should be to share and extend the best practice which already exists. There are many families that have succeeded with support from social work departments, the police, health, education and voluntary sector, but their stories rarely make it to the front page.
A robust inspection regime has been developed in Scotland. It has begun to lead to improvements which can benefit the families in our communities and the professions involved. It saddens me that so little media and political comment has focused on the positive practice in child protection which the inspectors consistently highlight. This is complex work demanding high levels of skill and expertise; to ignore the good practice does a grave disservice to many committed staff at the front line and skews the wider impression of social work in Scotland.
Professional commitment among social workers is remarkable. They struggle with stretched resources, financial restrictions and a great deal of scrutiny. Yet professional commitment is not enough to save all children at risk.
This message stands alongside the findings of a survey carried out by Action for Children that most people – even if they suspect a child of being neglected – will not come forward because they are scared of recrimination or they think it's none of their business.
Society fails children before social workers even become involved. Social work departments, health professionals, the police and educators all bear the responsibility of trying to make life better for children in need.
Reports, such as that of Dundee, are just one part of the story. It is not a story that can be simply accepted – change must come as a result of it. But it is also true that, elsewhere in Scotland, the solutions to their problems may be in operation, and as professionals social workers should have the opportunity to identify good practices and create a national social work programme that reflects the very best.
• Harriet Dempster is president of the Association of Directors of Social Work.
