Who'd be a Social Worker?

Published on Fri 9th Oct 2009

Having been to an excellent (and very well attended by Councillors from all Parties) briefing session on Safeguarding Children at Kent County Council today, I have even more respect for those who have to do the difficult, and often harrowing, job of helping to safeguard children - within Kent and elsewhere. There was a lot to digest and think about, but one set of figures stood out.

• Children in care are 5 times less likely to get 5 good GCSEs

• Children in care are 5 times more likely to be excluded from school

• Children in care are 4 times more likely to suffer from mental health problems

• Children in care have a 1 in 10 chance of having 10 placements by age 11

• Children in care are 3 times more likely to become pregnant as teenagers

• Children in care are 3 times more likely to be cautioned for or convicted of an offence (a quarter of adult prisoners have spent time in care)

The use of care is a last resort - I know that. And when a child has been settled and gets out of care into a new long term family then they won't be part of these statistics - I know that too. We're talking about the most difficult, troubled cases. But it still FEELS so wrong.