Scotland view: There's no easy way to deal with children in vulnerable situations

Child protection system

The repercussions of the tragic Caleb Ness case continue to be felt at Edinburgh City Council, and while it is clear that a determined effort has been made to improve the care and protection of vulnerable children, much has still to be done.
There is a difference of opinion between the council and the public service workers' union Unison over how much has been achieved in the two years since the report into Caleb's death was published, but real improvements do seem to have been made.

Council leader Donald Anderson points to the fact that an additional £5 million has been earmarked for the social services budget and a fall in vacancy levels from 32 per cent to zero as evidence of their commitment. But the union claims that caseloads are still too heavy and there is some evidence that staff are handling more cases than recommended, leading to longer hours and less time dealing with individuals.
There is no easy way of dealing with children in vulnerable situations, and breaking the cycle of deprivation and abuse will require decisive intervention for children at risk — who are likely to turn into tomorrow's abusers if they are not removed from a brutalising environment.

Recruiting more foster parents is absolutely essential, but for some of the most damaged children a foster environment is often unsustainable. More places in secure environments where such young people can receive expert help are badly needed, but as Councillor Anderson rightly points out, this is not just Edinburgh's problem.
In tandem with the provision of staff and care places must be a broad acceptance that the parental home is not necessarily the best place for a child if that place is a violent world where the parents' addictions come first.

Too often children remain in a hostile environment simply because there is nowhere else for them to go, and that should never be the case.
Right from the start of a child's life, health visitors know exactly where problems will arise — community midwives all have harrowing stories of dealing with women who are not up to the job of bringing up a child — but the decision to remove obviously cannot be taken lightly.
There can be no generalisations about highly individual cases, but neither can there be generalisations about approach. Making the right decisions needs regular close observation and that needs people.

Editorial
9 August 2005

http://news.scotsman.com/leaders.cfm?id=1751632005

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