Voice welcomes Laming report

12 March 2009

Voice: the union for education professionals has welcomed the reported key findings of the inquiry by Lord Laming and new training for children's services managers in England to be announced by the Children's Secretary today (12 March 2009).

Senior Professional Officer (Childcare) Tricia Pritchard said: "We must ensure that the whole workforce is adequately trained not only in safeguarding children, but in communicating with, and working alongside, all other professionals. There is a long way to go before we have a fully integrated workforce. Professionals are still not communicating with each other in a way that gives them the confidence to be constructively critical of others' practice, especially when the practice in question is at a more senior level.

"We must make sure that safeguarding children is completely embedded in all that we do and that ALL those working with children have their training reviewed and updated. Whistle-blowing must be highlighted as everyone's duty rather than something done only by the brave or, sadly as it's seen by many, the foolhardy.

"We would like to see a comprehensive programme of professional development for all practitioners working with children, from those in key roles to those on the periphery. The training has to be comprehensive and tackle some controversial issues. There must be a requirement to look critically at all that we do and the practices of our colleagues, including that of our seniors. There should also be a requirement to report bad practice or even the suspicion that something is not right – not doing so should carry the risk of disciplinary action. It's far better to have a complaint investigated and found to be of no consequence than to withhold information for fear of personal reprisals – the stakes are too high.

"Rigorous training on safeguarding is required for all but so is training on managing complaints. Even the slightest concern should be investigated and become the responsibility of two if not more people so that it cannot get lost on someone's desk or is reliant on the actions of just one person. A complaint is serious in all cases and should not be dismissed unless and until it has been fully investigated and considered closed by more than one senior officer. This would also safeguard individuals making sure that decisions reached are not theirs alone.

"The recent pledge by Ofsted Chief Inspector Christine Gilbert to introduce a 'whistle-blowers' hotline' for social workers and other frontline professionals was therefore welcome. However, Voice urges the Children's Workforce Development Council to undertake a review of training across the board, encompassing all those working with children and young people with a requirement of emphasis on safeguarding, working alongside fellow professionals and how to question practice when concerned.

"Safeguarding our children should never be second to safeguarding our own positions. Thankfully the vast majority of those working in the sector are highly professional but even they fail at times when the systems in place fail them."

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