Baby P backlash may scare off potential social work recruits

Published on Friday 26 December 2008 18:16

POTENTIAL social workers are being scared away because they fear being vilified if they make mistakes like those in the Baby P tragedy, experts warn.

Research showed that two out of three councils were struggling to recruit children's social workers even before details of the boy's death came to light.

Public sector leaders are voicing grave worries that the public backlash over failings in the Baby P case could harm the most vulnerable youngsters.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said it could lead to people who might have considered a career in child protection thinking again.

This would worsen problems with recruitment and retention, leaving "serious gaps in the safety net", it said.

Ian Johnston, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, said the reaction to Baby P's death "might just be the straw that breaks the camel's back". He said: "It's quite worrying, the thought that you might be vilified by the entire nation. No other profession has to put up with that."

The shocking facts of the Baby P case led to an outpouring of public grief and fury, and sparked major government reviews of child protection services.

The 17-month-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, her boyfriend and their lodger.

When he died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year, he had eight fractured ribs, and a broken back and had swallowed one of his teeth after being struck in the mouth.