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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Gove urges 'systematic' child protection reform | Gove urges 'systematic' child protection reform |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Michael Gove is calling for "systematic" and "radical" reform of England's child protection system so it can meet the challenge it faces. | Michael Gove is calling for "systematic" and "radical" reform of England's child protection system so it can meet the challenge it faces. |
| The Education Secretary, who was himself adopted, says his life was "transformed" by the skill of social workers, and his adoptive parents. | The Education Secretary, who was himself adopted, says his life was "transformed" by the skill of social workers, and his adoptive parents. |
| Many social workers were indoctrinated, however, to see the people they help as victims of social injustice, he says. | Many social workers were indoctrinated, however, to see the people they help as victims of social injustice, he says. |
| This was pernicious and led to excuses being made for poor behaviour, he adds. | This was pernicious and led to excuses being made for poor behaviour, he adds. |
| Speaking at an NSPCC event, Mr Gove, who has responsibility for children's services as well as education, will say: "I believe that we have not been either systematic, radical or determined enough in our efforts to reform the system of child protection in this country. | Speaking at an NSPCC event, Mr Gove, who has responsibility for children's services as well as education, will say: "I believe that we have not been either systematic, radical or determined enough in our efforts to reform the system of child protection in this country. |
| 'Undermined by dogma' | 'Undermined by dogma' |
| "But that is changing. And it is my aim to ensure that change is equal to the challenge we all face." | "But that is changing. And it is my aim to ensure that change is equal to the challenge we all face." |
| He said social workers needed to be skilful in developing relationships with adults and thinking about the needs of their children at the same time. | He said social workers needed to be skilful in developing relationships with adults and thinking about the needs of their children at the same time. |
| He will go on to argue that great practice is being "undermined by dogma" and that he intends to "strip this out" of social work by reforming its structures and improving standards. | He will go on to argue that great practice is being "undermined by dogma" and that he intends to "strip this out" of social work by reforming its structures and improving standards. |
| "Social work training involves idealistic students being told that the individuals with whom they will work have been disempowered by society," he is expected to say. | "Social work training involves idealistic students being told that the individuals with whom they will work have been disempowered by society," he is expected to say. |
| "They will be encouraged to see these individuals as victims of social injustice whose fate is overwhelmingly decreed by the economic forces and inherent inequalities which scar our society," he will add. | "They will be encouraged to see these individuals as victims of social injustice whose fate is overwhelmingly decreed by the economic forces and inherent inequalities which scar our society," he will add. |
| "This analysis is, sadly as widespread as it is pernicious. It robs individuals of the power of agency and breaks the link between an individual's actions and the consequences. It risks explaining away substance abuse, domestic violence and personal irresponsibility, rather than doing away with them." | "This analysis is, sadly as widespread as it is pernicious. It robs individuals of the power of agency and breaks the link between an individual's actions and the consequences. It risks explaining away substance abuse, domestic violence and personal irresponsibility, rather than doing away with them." |
| 'Making excuses' | 'Making excuses' |
| It could lead social workers "to see their job as securing the family's access to services provided", rather than "helping them to change their own approach to life". | It could lead social workers "to see their job as securing the family's access to services provided", rather than "helping them to change their own approach to life". |
| "Instead of working with individuals to get them to recognise harmful patterns of behaviour, and improve their own lives, some social workers acquiesce in or make excuses for these wrong choices," he will say. | "Instead of working with individuals to get them to recognise harmful patterns of behaviour, and improve their own lives, some social workers acquiesce in or make excuses for these wrong choices," he will say. |
| The speech comes as an amendment to the Children and Families Bill in the Lords is set to make it more straightforward for the secretary of state to intervene in failing local authorities. | The speech comes as an amendment to the Children and Families Bill in the Lords is set to make it more straightforward for the secretary of state to intervene in failing local authorities. |
| There is one local authority children's services, Doncaster, which has been completely taken out of council control. A private consultancy firm has been chosen as a temporary improvement partner until an independent trust is set up. | |
| But the DfE is said to be eyeing a number of other children's services departments which are thought to not be performing as well as they should. | But the DfE is said to be eyeing a number of other children's services departments which are thought to not be performing as well as they should. |