Skip to main content area
Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
Main Content Area
Herefordshire Council has backed the introduction of new arrangements which could be introduced following the findings of the Victoria Climbie enquiry.
The new standards and ways of working would ensure nurses, social workers, teachers, doctors and police work together more effectively.
"It would also help if multi-agency teams worked from the same office," said Herefordshire Council's Director of Social Care and Strategic Housing, Sue Fiennes.
"The findings of the enquiry mean we need better training, tighter supervision and a higher status for all staff working directly with vulnerable children and their families.
“This was a failing on behalf of every service and there must be better co-ordination. We have good policies, nationally there must be good practice.
"We all need to be vigilant," added Sue, who said the authority deeply regrets the circumstances in which any child suffers such dreadful abuse and offered the Council's sympathy to Victoria's family.
A recent national inspection report showed that in the majority of cases children were protected from significant harm.
"Here in Herefordshire we've improved our children's service over the last two years and all children on the child protection register have an allocated social worker and reviews of their protection plans are done on time," said Sue.
"However, we would like to see more resources for area child protection committees, more legal authority for their work, and national standards for all agencies. We await with interest the Green Paper in the Spring to see the way ahead.
"Protecting children should be at the top of every agencies' priorities. Having strong and effective services for all children is the best way of protecting every child," added Sue.
Climbie Enquiry Findings
Herefordshire Council has backed the introduction of new arrangements which could be introduced following the findings of the Victoria Climbie enquiry.
The new standards and ways of working would ensure nurses, social workers, teachers, doctors and police work together more effectively.
"It would also help if multi-agency teams worked from the same office," said Herefordshire Council's Director of Social Care and Strategic Housing, Sue Fiennes.
"The findings of the enquiry mean we need better training, tighter supervision and a higher status for all staff working directly with vulnerable children and their families.
“This was a failing on behalf of every service and there must be better co-ordination. We have good policies, nationally there must be good practice.
"We all need to be vigilant," added Sue, who said the authority deeply regrets the circumstances in which any child suffers such dreadful abuse and offered the Council's sympathy to Victoria's family.
A recent national inspection report showed that in the majority of cases children were protected from significant harm.
"Here in Herefordshire we've improved our children's service over the last two years and all children on the child protection register have an allocated social worker and reviews of their protection plans are done on time," said Sue.
"However, we would like to see more resources for area child protection committees, more legal authority for their work, and national standards for all agencies. We await with interest the Green Paper in the Spring to see the way ahead.
"Protecting children should be at the top of every agencies' priorities. Having strong and effective services for all children is the best way of protecting every child," added Sue.