Being instructed to give a positive reference when existing one organisation to start a new job does not address issues and therefore leads to disfunction.

Allowing IT trainers to turn away social workers from vital training because the social worker may have been 12 to 20 minutes late, dispite informing the trainer they have been on the road since 7:30 am transporting a child from one part of the city to the other side of the city to attend school.

Also despite the foster carers having a car but refusing to take the child to school.However not challenged by the manager but blame the social worker.Dispite informing the manager the night prior the journey was not manageable due to extensive road works and distance to then attend training at 9 am from the other side of the city.

No challenges made by the manager.No regard for planning and or addressing a number of issues in plain sight!! No responsibility /accountability taken by other’s each of which have a knock on impact.

Higher health professionals who feel they do not have to communicate with social workers in child protection investigations dispite having written consent.

The manager who believes bullying, disrespectful communication is a form of management but does not have the skill or knowledge base to support the workforce (easier to blame the worker)

These are only SOME of the issues if open and honest dialogue does not take place and or challenged why would anything change?

Children and the workforce are human beings.Social workers should have the confidence to express issues respectfully to prevent risk from being over looked should we not? Does this not allow for change to happen therefore reducing risk and offering greater safeguards for children and young people.

These are based on experiences.

Is it not about leadership,funding,attitudes,directions, resources, research with regular and targetted training to address the realitys faced by todays social workers.It does not matter how many new bills/laws are implemented they will not work unless all the above and attitudes change by all.

Micomanagement does not work and only leads to workers leaving a profession which needs its workforce.Does it not?

Safeguarding of vulnerable children is paramount and is the responsibility of all agency’s, it is a mandatory requirement for all.The Education Act 2002 requires Safeguarding training on a regular basis every (two year’s) is my understanding to include updated law’s and procedures.Laws in children’s services change on a regular basis therefore should training not be a priority?

EVERYTHING has a knock on impact, you can not successfully implement one without the other.

Working together and keeping children safe in education are statutory guidelines every organisation should have pratice, procedures and knowledge of this was updated in (2023) I still have a copy dated (2006 HM Government) given to every social worker.Should every organisation not not have copy’s and regular training which appears now eroded because of workloads,resources.Not having training or a point of reference only disables the process/intervention and decision making.

Thereby leaving children at risk.Is this then the social worker who is at fault? Or a lack of funding, investment in the service, training,time to analyse information , time to reflect and seriously learn from passed risk all of which are important processes to protect children.

All schools from nursery’s primary schools,high schools have Safeguarding leads as does health services,the police,GPs,Consultants and all agencies with Safeguarding responsibility.Statutory meetings are held to enable sharing of valuable information.Purhaps look at how these are conducted and the underlying issues why some are in affective? It is not only Social workers who are accountable. Safeguarding plan’s also can not work if all services are not accountable.Progression and the safeguards in place to protect vulnerable children will not work if working together does not work.

My aim is not to be critical because I am aware of how difficult the role and responsibilities are,however should we not be open and honest without which children remain invisible,vulnerable and at risk.Why did we train to be social workers in the first place?have no doubt a child being subject to harm and or loosing their life is devastating for social workers who may feel they could/ should have spotted the red flags.

There are so many issues which need addressing.From IT support,lack of time in investing in the workforce to enable confident professionals.

Understanding the role, attitudes,leadership,training and skill base,funding,responsibilities/accountability for all.Ask yourself If only one service is accoutable why would anything change? I could expand further but will not.