Why local authorities are right to take children from their parents

By Jacob Brookman

The care of vulnerable children is an area most of us, thankfully, have little to do with in our everyday lives.

But this week the issue was once more in the spotlight when figures emerged that show the number of children being taken referred into care is at an all-time high.

In January, 903 court applications were made, a new peak in a number that has been steadily growing.

So why are more and more local authorities taking this decision of last resort?

The catalyst for the rise was the case of Baby P which first emerged in 2008. The tragic toddler suffered terrible abuse and revelations of his plight focused public attention on the role of social workers and the needs of vulnerable children.

But it was principally social workers who bore the brunt of public rage. And yet among all the fire and the fury about why they hadn't intervened earlier there was also tacit recognition of the difficulties of dealing with such situations.

Parenting is a touchy subject especially when it comes to criticising how children are raised.

We’ve all heard new parents yammering on about every detail of their child’s character, physique and temperament, and though often irritating, it does display a reassuring level of pride.

However, we have also all observed young, stressed parents roaring furiously in supermarkets when their children misbehave, and we’ve thought inwardly ‘What a shame, they don't stand a chance'.

But assessing the suitability of a parent is rarely so clear-cut, and because of this, social workers are given stringent guidelines on calculating 'risk'.

This is because they are dealing with raw emotions in stressed people who are struggling to cope. Guidelines can only help so far. It gets to a point where someone has to make a call.

One thing is certain, the current upward trend of referrals is putting immense strain on resources, and if we are to tread a safe line on child welfare, we must avoid vilifying an already over-stretched service.

So is it better to err on the side of caution regarding child welfare?

On balance, yes. Poor parenting often leads to maladjusted, confused adults, prone to continuing this vicious cycle.

And while tough economic times might mean dwindling resources we must do all we can to avoid another Baby P.