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BBC News
By Alison Holt
Published
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Child protection services in England are too focused on investigating families in crisis and do not provide enough early support, a report says.
An independent review of council-run children s social care said services to protect vulnerable children were in urgent need of investment and reform.
It concluded that with an increasing demand for help, the current system was unsustainable and failing young people.
The government, which set up the review, said it was boosting funding.
Over the last three months, the review team has heard from more than 1,000 young people, families and staff working in children s services.
Social services are overly focused on “investigating” families struggling to care for their children rather than providing support to help them through their difficulties, a report has found.
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care found the current system often weakens rather than strengthens a child’s support networks, depriving them of long-term loving relationships.
Of those leaving care to embark on their adult life, the only form of social support network available to one in 10 was the care worker assigned to them.
“Too often children are moved far from where they have grown up, are separated from their brothers or sisters, are forced to move schools, and have a revolving door of social workers,” the report said.
Social services are overly focused on “investigating” families struggling to care for their children rather than providing support to help them through their difficulties, a report has found.
The Independent Review of Children’s Social Care found the current system often weakens rather than strengthens a child’s support networks, depriving them of long-term loving relationships.
Of those leaving care to embark on their adult life, the only form of social support network available to one in 10 was the care worker assigned to them.
“Too often children are moved far from where they have grown up, are separated from their brothers or sisters, are forced to move schools, and have a revolving door of social workers,” the report said.