Don't vilify all social workers on abuse, says Salmond

Published on Thursday 27 November 2008 21:03

SOCIAL workers should not face general attack in the aftermath of the Baby P case, Alex Salmond said yesterday.

The First Minister spoke out in parliament after concerns were raised by the Association of Directors of Social Work in Scotland that the profession faces vilification over the case.

"Those who work in child protection in Scotland do a fantastic job," Mr Salmond said during First Minister's Questions. "They are a highly qualified and highly motivated profession and they should not be subject to general attack because of an individual instance – tragic, but an individual instance in one council."

The Baby P case saw a 17-month-old boy killed after months of abuse. An initial investigation found evidence of poor quality practice, management and supervision of staff in Haringey, North London.

"When you get a tragic instance such as the Baby P case there almost is a tension between people rightly wanting to focus attention on the case to say it's unacceptable," the First Minister said.

But he said people had to be careful that while identifying faults, which "obviously" took place in this specific case, they do not generalise that to an "entire workforce" in the social work sector.

Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died after suffering 50 horrific injuries.

Meanwhile, a doctor who failed to spot the baby's broken ribs and back during an examination has been suspended, the General Medical Council said.

Dr Sabah al-Zayyat missed the injuries days before the 17-month-old boy died in a blood-splattered cot.