Webmanager_CritEst
2009-04-06 12:27:42 UTC
Too many at-risk children left with parents says NSPCC
Too many at-risk children are being left with their parents, the new
boss of children's charity NSPCC claims.
Last Updated: 8:32AM BST 06 Apr 2009
Sad boy: Too many at-risk children left with parents says NSPCC
Too many at-risk children are being left with their parents, Andrew
Flanagan, the new boss of children's charity NSPCC claims Photo: GETTY
Andrew Flanagan, who was appointed chief executive of the charity in
January, said public perceptions of poor quality residential and
foster care may be to blame and the issue needed to be addressed.
Asked whether too many children at risk of harm were being left with
their families, Mr Flanagan said: "If a child dies, we have to say,
'Yes, they are'. The cut-off point is wrong. "
He added: "There is a long-standing view that publicly-provided care
is not as good as care in the home. There is a presupposition that
leaving a child in the home must be better. We need to open up that
debate.
"Why is care not a good option? If it isn't, that is the thing that
needs to be addressed."
His comments, in The Times, come in the wake of the Baby P case. The
toddler died in a blood-splattered cot in August 2007 after suffering
at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger despite
being on the child protection register and receiving 60 contacts with
the authorities over eight months.
Mr Flanagan said that after the Baby P tragedy the debate should focus
on why foster and residential care was considered "not a good option"
and what was needed to improve the system.
He also admitted that the NSPCC's eight-year Full Stop campaign, which
raised £250 million with the aim of ending child cruelty, had failed
to meet the charity's own expectations.
"We may have tried to advance on too broad a front," he said.
The former chief executive of Scottish Media Group added: "We raised
the money, and spent it wisely on good things, and people's lives
changed as a result. But I don't think it advanced us towards the goal
of ending child cruelty in terms of the expectations at the
beginning."
He said that during the recession the charity would focus on its
services towards vulnerable children instead of campaigning.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5112737/Too-many-at-risk-children-left-with-parents-says-NSPCC.html
**
WM
www.critest.com
Too many at-risk children are being left with their parents, the new
boss of children's charity NSPCC claims.
Last Updated: 8:32AM BST 06 Apr 2009
Sad boy: Too many at-risk children left with parents says NSPCC
Too many at-risk children are being left with their parents, Andrew
Flanagan, the new boss of children's charity NSPCC claims Photo: GETTY
Andrew Flanagan, who was appointed chief executive of the charity in
January, said public perceptions of poor quality residential and
foster care may be to blame and the issue needed to be addressed.
Asked whether too many children at risk of harm were being left with
their families, Mr Flanagan said: "If a child dies, we have to say,
'Yes, they are'. The cut-off point is wrong. "
He added: "There is a long-standing view that publicly-provided care
is not as good as care in the home. There is a presupposition that
leaving a child in the home must be better. We need to open up that
debate.
"Why is care not a good option? If it isn't, that is the thing that
needs to be addressed."
His comments, in The Times, come in the wake of the Baby P case. The
toddler died in a blood-splattered cot in August 2007 after suffering
at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger despite
being on the child protection register and receiving 60 contacts with
the authorities over eight months.
Mr Flanagan said that after the Baby P tragedy the debate should focus
on why foster and residential care was considered "not a good option"
and what was needed to improve the system.
He also admitted that the NSPCC's eight-year Full Stop campaign, which
raised £250 million with the aim of ending child cruelty, had failed
to meet the charity's own expectations.
"We may have tried to advance on too broad a front," he said.
The former chief executive of Scottish Media Group added: "We raised
the money, and spent it wisely on good things, and people's lives
changed as a result. But I don't think it advanced us towards the goal
of ending child cruelty in terms of the expectations at the
beginning."
He said that during the recession the charity would focus on its
services towards vulnerable children instead of campaigning.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5112737/Too-many-at-risk-children-left-with-parents-says-NSPCC.html
**
WM
www.critest.com