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Fears of 'rash' Baby P reaction Fears of 'rash' Baby P reaction
(about 7 hours later)
A "knee-jerk" policy response to the Baby P case could harm children in the long-run, local authorities in England and Wales are warning.A "knee-jerk" policy response to the Baby P case could harm children in the long-run, local authorities in England and Wales are warning.
The Local Government Association (LGA) says it is concerned that children may be taken into care unnecessarily.The Local Government Association (LGA) says it is concerned that children may be taken into care unnecessarily.
In a speech later, chairwoman Margaret Eaton will also say she fears a witch hunt and that social workers may quit. Chairwoman Margaret Eaton told the BBC she feared a witch hunt and thought talented social workers might quit.
Court services say they have seen a sharp rise in care applications since details of the Baby P case emerged.Court services say they have seen a sharp rise in care applications since details of the Baby P case emerged.
In her speech to a child protection summit, Ms Eaton will call for a "pause for thought" and warn that a rash response could result in "irreparable, long-term damage" to child protection services. In a speech to a child protection summit on Wednesday, Ms Eaton will call for a "pause for thought" and warn that a rash response could result in "irreparable, long-term damage" to child protection services.
She is due to say: "Let us be clear - poor performance at the frontline in any of our services must be effectively challenged, in this area above all, and where good support does not result in improvement, it has to be dealt with firmly.She is due to say: "Let us be clear - poor performance at the frontline in any of our services must be effectively challenged, in this area above all, and where good support does not result in improvement, it has to be dealt with firmly.
'Soul-searching' 'Vilified'
"But that's no excuse for a witch hunt, which is not only unreasonable, but also threatens to be seriously counter-productive.
"There is a risk now that we repeat the depressing pattern of the past and have a short, intensive period of soul-searching and recrimination, followed by a far longer period of relative silence.""There is a risk now that we repeat the depressing pattern of the past and have a short, intensive period of soul-searching and recrimination, followed by a far longer period of relative silence."
Ms Eaton will also announce that she has written to Gordon Brown explaining how the LGA will support councils to strengthen child protection work. Ms Eaton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the Baby P case was "horrendous", but there was now a need to "move on" with practical improvements.
She is expected to demand increased investment in children's social work. "When there's a witch hunt or people are vilified then I think a whole profession comes into disrepute and I think really dedicated people might think twice about wanting to continue, so that makes more children vulnerable," she said.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"We need to look at continuous improvement, not just 'Oh, we must design a new system because there's been a problem.'
"We have to look at positive practical things on a daily basis... that all people dealing with children can work to."
Ms Eaton has written to Gordon Brown explaining how the LGA will support councils to strengthen child protection work.
She said it was backing a five-point action plan, which included greater emphasis on "early intervention in families that are obviously failing to thrive" and more effort to co-ordinate all the services dealing with children.
"Making sure that we develop and invest in the staff who are on this very lonely frontline service" was also vital, she added.
More investment would be needed in children's social work, she said, but money must be spent in the most effective way.
"I think we need to hear from people actually doing the job, to hear what they say about the things that get in the way of them feeling confident that they're doing the job for these vulnerable children as well as they could," she said.
Baby P died in 2007 after suffering a catalogue of abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger, despite being on the child protection register of Haringey social services in north London.Baby P died in 2007 after suffering a catalogue of abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger, despite being on the child protection register of Haringey social services in north London.
The case shocked the country and Children's Minister Ed Balls has ordered an inquiry into the role of the local authority, the health authority and the police in the case.The case shocked the country and Children's Minister Ed Balls has ordered an inquiry into the role of the local authority, the health authority and the police in the case.
Mr Balls has unveiled plans for every area of England to be covered by a Children's Trust Board (CTB), which will aim to prevent abuse by co-ordinating child protection work between various agencies.Mr Balls has unveiled plans for every area of England to be covered by a Children's Trust Board (CTB), which will aim to prevent abuse by co-ordinating child protection work between various agencies.