Need for early intervention in child referrals

The high number of assessments carried out by the Island's social services on children, is partly due to the lack of an early intervention policy.

Seven hundred formal assessments were made last year as a result of child referrals.

But the majority only uncovered what are called 'low level' concerns which required no further action by social workers. 

The system was questioned by a Tywnald scrutiny committee last week which heard that in the UK, up to 30 per cent of cases are not pursued after informal enquiries put fears to rest.

Head of Safeguarding at the Department of Social Care Deborah Brayshaw says the Island has yet to establish a similar approach.

As a result, all referrals trigger more intrusive and costly investigations: