UK social workers fear service cuts risk children's lives

Some 88% of social workers think cuts are putting vulnerable children's lives at risk, a survey suggests.

European Phoenix -- And 54% of the 1,100 UK social workers questioned by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) said their caseloads were "unmanageable".

The BASW says it shows the system is in a "dire" state and at "breaking point" - five years after the Baby P tragedy.

The government said it was cutting red tape to make it easier for social workers to get on with their jobs.

'Cleaning toilets'

Baby Peter Connolly - who became known as Baby P - was 17 months old when he was found dead with more than 50 injuries at his mother's home in Tottenham, north London. He had been on the at-risk register and received 60 visits from social workers, police and health professionals over eight months.

His mother and two men were jailed in 2009 but the case sparked widespread criticism of social services in Haringey, north London.

Lives that could quite literally be saved will be lost unless the response is swift and total”

Hilton Dawson British Association of Social Workers

The British Association of Social Workers claims that "despite political pledges to protect front-line services, government cuts have left social workers drowning in paperwork, acting as receptionists and even cleaning toilets, instead of working to prevent further tragedies".

BASW chief executive Hilton Dawson said: "The government pledged in 2010 to protect front-line social workers, yet by axing support staff they have turned social workers into glorified typists.

"We cannot afford to wait any longer for urgent action from government. Lives that could be helped will be neglected and lives that could quite literally be saved will be lost unless the response is swift and total.

"Social workers are facing an administrative overload and as a result are spending less and less time with vulnerable children and adults.

"Caseloads are quite simply unmanageable, posing imminent and serious risks to the people who need services.

"The stresses on service providers, from the very top to the bottom, are creating an endemic culture of bullying, driving morale levels through the floor."

It's really amazing to me that there hasn't been another national case like Peter Connolly's”

Social worker

The survey suggested 85% of social workers had seen cuts to services within the last year, 77% were concerned about caseloads, 65% worried about the use of unqualified staff and 46% were afraid to speak out.

One social worker with 20 years of experience told BBC News there had been a steady increase in the number of cases referred for social work since the Baby P tragedy, but cuts in staffing and an administrative overload meant the service barely coped.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, said his current caseload ran to over 50 families.