The discussion section elaborates the argument on whether any of Eileen Munro’s recommendations were implemented. To begin with, let us briefly review some of the endorsements. The Munro report changes the current child protection approach that is extremely rigid and incomprehensible because of the bureaucratic procedures that leave professionals glued on computers rather than spending time with their clients. Firstly, the report proposes removal of standardized child protection targets that are enforced against social workers. Essentially, ministers are required to establish and restructure procedures that are provided sufficient help services to workers. Additionally, Munro recommends that process inspection of safeguarding services should be left unannounced and assessments should be done comprehensively. Also, the professor proposes an enhanced cooperation between UK government and healthcare organizations in order to ensure that reforms of NHS are not adversely impacting on safeguarding partnership agreements. Moreover, local authorities need to employs a principle child and family social worker in order to improve balance between procedures and guidelines.
Upon reviewing the questionnaire, it was evident that there were variant responses based on the questions that were asked. The major queries were whether parents blamed poor academic performance and mood disorders on child maltreatment at both home and school. The analysis was carried by investigating several data points across different age groups. For children between the ages of 3 and 5, it was noted that 12 out of a sample of 50 had poor academic performance and 7 has mood disorders due to the current system. Additionally, children between 6 and 8 depicted 8 children who were performing poorly due to maltreatment at home or school. Children between the age groups of 9-11, 12-14 and 15-17 were recorded to be 16, 9 and 5 respectively. Also, mood disorders was another parameter that was looked into when assessing the effectiveness of the current system of child protection. The analysis shows that 13 children between 6 and 8 had mood disorders and 8 of them were recorded to be between the ages of 9 and 11. The largest number of children sampled were between the ages of 12 and 14. 14 among them had mood disorders. Also, children between the ages of 15 and 17 had mood disorders and the number recorded was 8.
The following chart illustrates the aforementioned figures
A statistical analysis of the data shows that the variance for poor academic performance and mood disorders were 6.77 and 15.63 respectively. Principally, the mean depicts a decline in academic performance from 9.64 to 6.77. It is evident that most people agree that abuse of children is one of the biggest contributor to poor performance (Munro 2008, p.12).
Primarily, Munro’s recommendations come in handy in solving the problems of child abuse in order to improve their performance (Munro 2004, p.18). The child protection system in UK stated that change has been established between supervisor’s demands and evaluation processes. The primary basis of Eileen Munro’s child safeguarding practice was freeing social workers from the excessive bureaucracy for them to work with their families and at the same time protect children at risk. The Munro recommendations ensure safety of children both in school and at home.
Upon review of the report, the government has outlined a system that focuses on the needs of vulnerable children in primary schools (Munro 2008, p.4). Essentially, the government will reduce central regulations and entrust mores responsibility to skilled professionals as well as local leaders who will eventually necessitate long term reforms. The aim is to create a child protection system that values feedback of children. Additionally, the approach will be based on professional expertise derived from individuals that provide inclusive range of aid and services to primary school children and their families.
The UK government has already comes up with a number of ways to implement Munro’s recommendations. To begin with, it has instigated a radical reduction in the amount of central regulations and also removed bureaucratic rules and procedures. Moreover, the implementation work group has slimmed down statutory guidance by removing timescales for assessment and it has removed the distinction between initial and core assessment. More so, chief social workers are required to provide a permanent professional presence for social work and responsibilities in government and they cover both children and adults (Dunkley 2015, p.2).
According to Dunkley, the ministry of education has established a joint programmer with department of health in order to safeguard the central considerations of health reforms in relation to the children (2015, p.2). Additionally, further work has been undertaken in the department of education. For instance, the sector has been tasked to consider evidence and opportunities for using new technologies to review methodologies for SCRs (Serious case reviews). Such reviews help local services to efficiently deliver lessons and development guidelines to professionals.
Implementing Munro’s recommendations would not be complete without involving local services. This department has been tasked to appoint practicing senior social workers as the Principal and Family social workers. Also, the local service departments have increased the range of preventative services in order to provide families with “early help offer”. Principally, local authorities are obligated to evaluate and redesign child and family social services and base them on feedback from children and families. Obviously, greater freedom is accompanied by greater responsibility (Dunkley 2015, p2). For instance, health, police and justice system have been inspected and instructed on the best ways to protect children. Certainly, experiences of children should be heart of the inspection system. The collaborative approach of the different departments means that there is a high likelihood that better and effective means can be employed in effecting new strategies.
Munro’s review proposes development of a learning culture in child protection and an approach that values knowledge and capabilities of social workers as well as other educational partners (Dunkley 2015, p.9). The government has responded to this review by demonstrating a new understanding by allowing autonomy. Basically, ministers involved have also come to an agreement to extend ongoing trials in order to give social workers greater independence in exercising their professional judgment. Hardworking social workers will be freed and structures, rule books and procedures will be re-invented in order to provide the best for children and families. For instance, some of the trials have been completed in Westminster, Cambria, Hackney and Knowsley.
Due to the analysis from Munro’s recommendations, the UK government has also worked with children’s leaders in creating reforms that are sustainable in the long term. Although the changes will take time to implement, it will have marked the removal of excessive bureaucratic demands. More freedom will be given to professionals and the government will be responsible in delivering and compensating such professionals, both in the short term and long term.
Anti-Oppressive and Anti-Discriminative Practises
In the UK, social workers are expected to recognize diversity by actively tackling oppression. Munro’s review recommends centralization of activities and safeguarding practice by freeing social workers from the excessive bureaucracy. The review proclaims that social workers should understand the multi-dimensional landscape of diversity. Race, religion and age should be respected (Dolgoff et al. 2017, p.34). To prevent oppression, supervision and peer learning should be carried out by the managers. Additionally, the framework proposes a number of core standards and capabilities that provide a benchmark on the best anti-discriminative practices, and they include: challenging cultural assumptions, understand differences, respecting such differences and repertoire of personal presentations
As Munro argues, the notion of partnerships is essential in preventing oppression and discrimination. Currently, there is a general acceptance of polices and partnerships that encourage anti-oppression. Social workers are required to think structurally rather than individually, separate guilt from responsibility, speak up in case of discrimination and honor and respect the systems that have been set up.
Ethical Issues faced by social workers with regard to implementing Munroe’s Recommendations
Implementation of the review means that the UK policy has shifted power away from families and casual social workers to professionals. However, the idea of information sharing between professionals poses the problem of ethic of confidentiality. Munro’s work emphasizes on information sharing within the professional network in order to monitor the development of children and also improving the risk and need assessment. Additionally, its implementation results in erosion of family privacy (Dolgoff et al. 2017, p.12).
The partnership of various organizations means more bureaucracy especially in following rules and guidelines. As such, there is the ethical issue of following rules versus professional estimation/gut feeling (Dolgoff et al. 2017, p.9) Professional estimation arises from many years of practice but making a decision based on the gut may go against the set procedures. Lastly, there is the ethical issue of maintaining a trustful working relationship with family members and at the same time preventing disclosure of important information without consent. Moreover, child protections services is surrounded by conflicting interest such as ambivalence of children and parents about their situations. Professionals are under pressure of massive anxiety due to dilemma of protecting oneself and at the same time protecting the child’s well-being. An integrated system will increase the ethical dilemma because workers will fear harassment and rebuke by supervisors.
Conclusion
To conclude, the collaborative and transparent approach that the UK government has responded to Munro’s report is commendable. Despite the significant challenges expected during transition, the responsible sectors look determined to implement this innovative and professionally-led approach. The downside that is obvious in the report is the fact that it will take a lot of time to implement all the recommendations. Moreover. It is not yet determined whether the model will bridge the gap that other standardized models advocated for. Irrespective of these challenges, the benefits largely outweigh the costs.
Future Opportunities for Developing the Research
There are a number of future opportunities that might be helpful in further development of the research. Firstly, the report will explore the disentangled roles of cultural processes, ecological variations and acculturation status during the research work. Efforts to address child neglect has to be informed in the form of complex cultural roles and associated contextual factors (Higgins 2017, p.9). Ecological factors and immigrant status may also be pertinent in elaborating the causes and consequences of child neglect. These factors will be imperative in testing the effectiveness of Munro’s intervention strategies and they will also be helpful in replicating an evidence-based practice across distinct populations in United Kingdom. Equally, the social stratification factors and influences will be essential in conducting future studies. Moreover, the dissertation will employ a multi-method and multi-sector approaches when fetching for information about child protection and safety. Notably, a multi-disciplinary approach will be helpful in determining the factors that influence both the dependent and independent variables. Lastly, the research will leverage upon existing knowledge on neglect research.
There a number of things that went wrong in the report. For instance, the report does not include ethnicity, race or social context in determining the sensitivity of child abuse. The role of these parameters need to be incorporated across child neglect research. Also, the use of qualitative and quantitative methodology that is complementary and responsive is critical to understanding vulnerable populations (Higgins 2017, p.9). Lastly, enactment of the whole program requires a policy formulation program. Essentially, there will be increased pressure on local authorities. That means that more financial constraints are expected from implementation of such a report.
References
Dunkley, M., 2015. Munro review of child protection: government response. [Online] Available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/175351/Munro-Government-Response.pdf [Accessed 2/05/2018].
Dolgoff, R. H., Loewenberg F. and Harrington, D., 2017. Ethical decisions for social work practice. California: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
Higgins, M., 2017. Child protection social work in England: how can it be reformed? The British Journal of Social Work, 7(2), pp. 293-307.
Munro, E., 2008. Effective child protection. London: SAGE.
