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11/11/2010
Baby P Protection 'Was Fundamentally Weak'
MPs have spoken out concerning the body employed to protect vulnerable children like Baby P.
They stated that the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) "failed to get to grips with fundamental weaknesses in its culture, management and performance" and was "not fit for purpose".
A report by the Commons' Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that following the Peter Connolly (Baby P) case, the organisation, which represents children at risk in the family courts, experienced a 34% rise in its casework.
The report stated there is "chaos across the family justice system" as a consequence of poor management, low staff morale and high absence rates.
It continued: "These problems have been to the detriment of children.”
The committee's chairwoman, Margaret Hodge said: "Cafcass was ill-prepared for the very large increase in care cases in 2009-10 which followed the Baby Peter tragedy and caused chaos in the family justice system.
"It is still dealing with a legacy of low morale, unacceptably high levels of sickness absence and underperformance by some staff."
The report also highlighted how, in 2009, court advisers took on average 16.1 days of sick leave, compared with the public sector average of 8.3 days.
Cafcass insisted it was "fit for purpose" and had taken "robust action" to improve service.
Toddler Peter Connelly died, in Haringey, north London in August 2007, after suffering months of abuse.
He was found with more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was visited 60 times by the authorities.
(BMcN/KMcA)
They stated that the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) "failed to get to grips with fundamental weaknesses in its culture, management and performance" and was "not fit for purpose".
A report by the Commons' Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that following the Peter Connolly (Baby P) case, the organisation, which represents children at risk in the family courts, experienced a 34% rise in its casework.
The report stated there is "chaos across the family justice system" as a consequence of poor management, low staff morale and high absence rates.
It continued: "These problems have been to the detriment of children.”
The committee's chairwoman, Margaret Hodge said: "Cafcass was ill-prepared for the very large increase in care cases in 2009-10 which followed the Baby Peter tragedy and caused chaos in the family justice system.
"It is still dealing with a legacy of low morale, unacceptably high levels of sickness absence and underperformance by some staff."
The report also highlighted how, in 2009, court advisers took on average 16.1 days of sick leave, compared with the public sector average of 8.3 days.
Cafcass insisted it was "fit for purpose" and had taken "robust action" to improve service.
Toddler Peter Connelly died, in Haringey, north London in August 2007, after suffering months of abuse.
He was found with more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was visited 60 times by the authorities.
(BMcN/KMcA)
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