Policy requiring risk assessment at low threshold means some parents feel fear rather than reassurance,researcher arguesA enormous increase in the number of children being referred to social services has caused “catastrophic” trauma for tens of thousands of families without any corresponding increase in the number of child abuse cases detected, the author of a study has said.According to statistical analysis by the University of the West of England, or child protection referrals gain risen by 297% since the Children Act came into force 23 years ago,and assessments by social services gain risen by 359%. The proportion of cases in which abuse was identified has plummeted from 24% to just under 8%.
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Source: theguardian.com