Liberal Democrats call for investigation into Surrey's Children's Service

4.42.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 8th Jun 2010

The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have called for an independent investigation into problems within the Children's Service in Surrey. This follows a Channel 4 television programme "Dispatches: undercover social worker" broadcast on the 7 June, which filmed an undercover family support worker working for the Children's Service in Surrey.

The Leader of the Lib Dem group Cllr Hazel Watson said: "The television programme revealed overworked social services staff working under severe pressure with heavy case-loads and a lack of training and inadequate support. I was appalled to see what appeared to be a family support worker dealing with a child protection case, which is the responsibility of a qualified social worker."

She added: "The programme raises serious concerns about whether vulnerable children in Surrey are adequately protected by Social Services. The Conservative administration at County Hall was served by government with an Improvement Notice in 2008 when Surrey's Children' s Service was rated by inspectors as 'inadequate'. The programme shows that despite the government's intervention in the management of Surrey's Children's Service many of the problems then identified still exist."

"I am calling for a independent investigation into the problems within the Children's Service in Surrey to tackle the problems and to ensure that the most vulnerable children receive the protection they need", she concluded.