How on earth did the the authorities let this happen?

[Admiral Huddy]

I don't think it has anything to do with emotion and I understand everything you are saying but this isn't the first time for Harringay and everytime they say "we are learning". This isn't just about Social Services, it's about everyone, including the Doctor, Childminder and so on. I'm sorry but heads should roll. These people are put into a position of trust and responsibility regardless of their remuneration. An exmaple has to be made, the system reviewed and a radical change in the way the system operates. There is too much "passing the buck" and "ticking the boxes" just get a job done without actually doing so.

Originally Posted by AboveTheSalt

As you say, the child being kept with the mother is not always the best solution - however, what are you suggesting, that children should ALWAYS be separated from the mother if there is any evidence of child abuse?

No that's not what i said at all. I said "Not always the case" which is not the same as "Always".

That seems incredibly harsh. People make mistakes. To suggest that someone should never recover from the trauma of a mistake is tantamount to suggesting that people should never learn from their mistakes.

Harsh?? Yes people make mistakes and learn.. but not where childrens lives are at risk. These people are employed with the responsibility of protecting children. They failed.

Dealing with social services ourselves whilst fostering was the single most frustrating thing about the whole experience. I must have told them on 5 accounts, that one lad shouldn't be in our care because he kept running away back home as that he was in danger, as his destination back home was about 3 hours on the run. They ignored every call until they decided that after a month I was right.