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Child protection 'is at breaking point'

The child protection system is "beyond breaking point" and social workers are facing increasing pressures, a report for MPs by the British Association of Social Workers said.

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Social worker: 'There needs to be action now'

A social worker who has worked in child protection for over 30 years has told ITV News that action needs to be taken now in social care.

Frontline social workers have given evidence to an All Party Parliamentary Group, talking about the daily pressures they are under and "being beyond breaking point."

We have had report after report all calling for change but has there been any? No. There now needs to be action.

We have very dedicated staff who don't go home on a Friday night until 8pm, and even then they are taking work home – I have to kick them out, that’s not unusual. I haven’t taken a lunch break in three months.

The one overriding statement my team want me to make is ‘capacity’; there’s just not the capacity in the system and I’ve never known it like it is now – just impossible.

I would say it used to be a 30/ 70 split between admin and face to face contact now it is more like 80/20. And trying to retain staff in the backdrop of cuts and enormous pressures is so difficult. Dedicated staff just feel like giving up.

– Karen Goodman

Read: MPs' report offers insight into pressures faced by social workers

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Child protection 'is at breaking point'

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