10/12/08
Compassion and scepticism needed to avoid another Baby P, says Faculty expert
As the debate about who is to blame for the death of Baby P continues to command headlines, the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences' Dr Ray Jones has been briefing journalists about the lessons that need to be learned in the wake of this tragic case.
Baby P, a 17-month-old boy, died after suffering months of abuse and neglect despite being seen 60 times by health workers, doctors, police officers and social workers. Dr Jones has been providing expert commentary to reporters as the case has unfolded, arguing that people involved in child protection need to be both compassionate and sceptical to avoid a repeat situation.
Sky News talked to Dr Jones in a live slot in November and later invited him back into the studio for follow up interviews. He has also been interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House programme, and by The Guardian, national news agency the Press Association and Community Care magazine.
Dr Jones said those responsible for protecting children needed to have a united approach and to alert each other to the warning signs. “Sometimes it is not clear when things are going to happen and the actions can be extreme, severe and difficult to predict,” he said. If there was any element of doubt, concern, or uncertainty, though, it was good professional practice to follow this up, he stressed.
“To prevent another tragedy like Baby P, professionals need to be inquiring, inquisitive, investigative and imaginative – constantly pushing to get more knowledge. The difficulty is anticipating where the Baby Ps of the future are among the hundreds of children that social workers are currently overseeing.”
Dr Jones is Professor of Social Work in the Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences and was formerly social services director for Wiltshire Council. He was named one of the top 10 most influential social workers in the UK by the Independent on Sunday in 2001.
