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Multi-Professional Practice and Safeguarding Children in UK; Is it really working? A Review of the Evidence

 

Overview

The Laming Inquiry, ordered after the murder of Victoria Climbié, has radically changed the face of social work. One major change is the introduction of multi-professional practice, sometimes known as ‘inter-professional’, partnerships. This is not a new idea and has been discussed in the decades leading up to Climbié death. However, this idea had not been implemented because the challenges seemed to be too great.

It was thought that institutions are so different that working together would be impossible, that professional hierarchies are so entrenched that achieving the equality needed for a true multi-professional team would be unachievable, and that basic limitations such as time and resources would not stretch to coping with the challenge.

When Climbié was killed, it became very clear that it was a lack of shared information between professionals that almost certainly led to a failure to safeguard her. The way to overcome this, authorities reasoned, was to implement multi-professional practice. Yet the new landscape of social care has been highly problematic.

Not only are children still falling through the cracks, social workers also report multiple barriers to inter-professional practice. As local authorities tighten the purse strings, thereby restricting resources even further, there are questions about whether multi-professional practice is really helping to safeguard children at all. This research will critically review the evidence that exists in support of the idea that multi-professional practice is indeed safeguarding children in the UK or otherwise.

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH STUDY

Background and context

History of working together

In the past, monastic institutions would take care of the spiritual and physical needs of individuals (Fraser, 2009). However, as population sizes boomed and major changes were made to the structure of the Church and government, the idea of a cohesive central point of care gradually evaporated (Fraser, 2009). Taking care of health became a Capitalist venture available exclusively to the wealthy, whilst other forms of social care ceased to exist. By the nineteenth century, the poor and disadvantaged were entirely neglected.

Nineteenth century and twentieth century philanthropists sought to find solutions to widespread social suffering. However, they tended to do so by following their own personal goals and agendas (Littlechild and Smith, 2013). Charities emerged, with the Charity Organisation Society being the driving force behind what would eventually become social services (Fraser, 2009). These charities used whatever legislative frameworks were available in order to achieve their individual goals. The result was a society with significant capacity to care for social needs, but addressing different issues in a piecemeal way. The largest fracturing is between the National Health Service (NHS) and social services,

but a clear division also exists between the NHS, social services, and the police force; and yet another between these three central institutions and other crucial points of care such as churches (Littlechild and Smith, 2013). Inevitably this has caused problems. Each institution has developed with its own internal organisational cultures, its own standards and frameworks, and is complete with its own set of problems and barriers. Each has a different sociocultural identity, political identity, and is tied to different sets of legislation (Littlechild and Smith, 2013). In short, each does its own thing.

It was in 2000 when an eight-year-old girl was admitted to hospital – semi-conscious and hypothermic, and in multiple organ failure – that the full scale of the problems would become strikingly clear. Before her death, Victoria Climbié had been in contact with no fewer than seven institutions, each of which had noted the clear signs of abuse, and each of which had failed to take action (Laming, 2003). According to the subsequent Laming Inquiry, the cause had been a fundamental lack of communication between the police, social services, and the NHS.

This event would have a profound effect on social work. The Children Act 2004 was created with the specific aim of increasing the co-ordination of various powers with an interest in protecting children. This includes the three social pillar institutions of the police, NHS, and social services; and includes charities such as the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC). The vision was that through co-ordination – which is variously termed inter-professional practice, multi-professional practice, and inter-agency practice – the safeguarding of children would be significantly increased (Laming, 2003). However, taking very distinct institutions with their own cultures, codes, and accountability and simply ordering them to work together is a demand fraught with potential difficulties (Parton, 2014).

It is from this starting point that the present piece of research begins. Other researchers have conducted similar studies and have not focused on the effectiveness of multiagency working in safegurding children .The findings from this study will contribute to the child protection field of study and practice.Over the past decade child abuse has taken centre stage in the public eye following the physical abuse resulting in the deaths of Climbié, Baby Peter, Kyra Ishaq and Deniel Pelka, the horrific consequences of sexual abuse committed by Jimmy Saville, and the grooming and trafficking by groups in Rotherham, Rochdale and Oxford.  Following the Laming Inquiry and Munro’s review of child protection and the consequent exposure of clear gaps in social services (Laming, 2003, 2009; Munro, 2011; 2012), there have been radical moves that have changed the face of social work.

The aim of this research is to determine whether the changes in inter-professional working implemented over the past decade have had a positive effect and enabled enhanced safeguarding of children in Coventry. Throughout this proposal, in keeping with UK law, which conforms to The UN Convention on the Rights (1989), a child is defined as everyone under 18…..