The report of an independent review of the management of
child neglect case in three parts of the Republic of Ireland has reached some
uncomfortable conclusions, according to the Irish
Times.
Most worryingly the review found that some social workers “…
lacked understanding of the deep and long-lasting impact of neglect, while some
seemed fixated on keeping children in families where neglect was occurring”.
I have to say that I personally don’t know many social
workers who are unaware of the consequences of severe neglect. But what may be
happening in Ireland, and elsewhere, is that the priorities of agencies and the
operation of the legal system shape workers’ perceptions and responses.
If you believe that you are not going to get the necessary
resources from your bosses to deal with a particular case, or if you believe
that the courts will not make orders in certain situations, then it would
not be surprising if you ended up tolerating behaviour that should not be
tolerated.
