Thanks for the heads up to that interesting article. Interesting to note the starkly different views about the virtues (or not) of databases like Contact Point – whether they are the cause of or the solution to the problem is clearly hotly debated, and there seems to be a bright line between the views of managers and social workers on the ground. Rather disturbing to see Martin Narey get the law so very wrong: “Some of my critics – and some who should know better – have said my view is “simplistic” and fails to balance the rights of the child with the rights of the parents. In law, there is no such balance to be pursued. Quite rightly, the law states that all that matters is what is best for the child. That is what we have to remember.”. What of course he means is that the Children Act 1989 is only concerned with what is best for the child, but the Children Act 1989 must be read in the light of the Human Rights Act and the rights it enshrines, which of course are rights of both child and parent. That’s pretty basic – and yes, Mr Narey – pretty simplistic.

In a second unrelated point to the topic above, have you read this article in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/nov/11/baby-p-vox-pops – I don’t know if this article is preaching to the converted, but, there seems to be a growing murmur in the press recently regarding the under-funding of Social Workers. The suggestions and criticisms make for interesting reading.