High-profile child deaths, such as that of Sara Sharif, continue to have a damaging effect on social workers’ confidence, a Community Care poll has found.
In a recent article, Community Care columnist Sophie Baker reflected on the loss of confidence she experienced as a newly qualified social worker following Lord Laming's 2003 report from his inquiry into Victoria Climbié's murder.
"For a time following the publication of a safeguarding practice review on a child’s death, I’d find myself feeling anxious," she wrote.
"I remember asking myself whether something like that could happen on my watch. Would I be the next social worker named in the media, criticised and belittled? What if I missed a warning sign and a child was left at risk?"
A recent Community Care poll confirmed that her experience continues to resonate across the profession. Of 467 respondents, two-thirds reported their professional confidence had been somewhat or very affected by a high-profile child death. Just 19% reported no impact at all.
“Learning from high-profile child deaths can make practice feel exposed and bring up internal pressure and anxiety to get it right for children,” wrote Sophie.
“Even nowadays, I remind myself that the feelings they bring up, while uncomfortable, reflect how deeply I care about keeping children safe.”
Celebrate those who've inspired you
Do you have a colleague, mentor, or social work figure you can't help but gush about?
Our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone within social work who has inspired you – whether current or former colleagues, managers, students, lecturers, mentors or prominent past or present sector figures whom you have admired from afar.
Nominate your colleague or social work inspiration by filling in our nominations form with a few paragraphs (100-250 words) explaining how and why the person has inspired you.
*Please note that, despite the need to provide your name and role, you or the nominee can be anonymous in the published entry*
If you have any questions, email our community journalist, Anastasia Koutsounia, at anastasia.koutsounia@markallengroup.com
