Social workers urged to face up to difficult home visits
Discussing the lessons to be learned for Irish social workers from the failures of British social services in the notorious Baby P case last year, professor of social work at the University of Nottingham, Harry Ferguson said the difficulties of child protection work needs to be highlighted as the concept of the “bungling social worker” has gained currency.
Mr Ferguson underlined the vital importance of family home visits even in face of the “hostility and deception”. He said social workers must face up to the “fear and disgust” these visits often induce and become more resilient.
He called on social workers not to be afraid to use their authority, to be ‘hands on’, to explore the house, especially bedrooms and not to be intimidated by parents.
One delegate told the Biennial Child Protection and Social Work Conference that social workers find it increasingly difficult to meet with children, as there are 1,893 people for every one social worker compared to a 1:734 ratio in Britain and the North.
Meanwhile, another senior social worker warned that there is a two-tier system emerging as the HSE increasingly uses private fostering and childcare agencies.
Principal social worker for HSE South, Joe McCarthy said while there were “ideological and ethical” issues about outsourcing such services, there were also stark differences in the services provided.
“I have spoken to people who work in these agencies and they have a maximum of 10 parental support cases, whereas the state service worker can have 30 or 40 cases. How can this be fair on anyone? The workers are on the same salary and the taxpayer is ultimately paying for it all yet look at the difference in service provision.
“I fear that there are a whole raft of issues that will arise from this private provision. It is a timebomb waiting to happen,” he said.
