Mental Health Conference

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Mental Health Conference

• 20th March 2009

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Aims of Inquiries

• Positive and laudable -
• To learn from our mistakes
• To prevent another tragic repetition
• Consequences are often negative and unhelpful

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Public Inquiry versus Child Death Review/Internal
Audit

• Public
• Lack of confidentiality (O Neill)
• Costly/great expense
• Failure perceived
• Professional scapegoat

• Private /Anonymous
• Service users privacy/human rights maintained
• Within existing resources
• Lessons to be learned
• Supportive to professionals

• Public Inquiry

• Internal Audit

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Dichotomy

• Society's respect for family
• Human Right to Privacy and family life
• Public demand for protection to individual
• and to society through tighter controls
• Obsession with securing an absolute avoidance of
  risk

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Trial by Media

• The Press judge professionals in relation to
  action in one case
• Creates a culture of fear
• Political football
• Damned if they do and damned if they dont

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Focus on Baby P

• Baby P used as a punch bag
• More than 60 bruises
• Broken spine
• Mother manipulated professionals - smeared him
  with chocolate to hide bruises

• Baby P seen by Professionals inc SW 60 times
• Injuries seen as accidental
• On child protection register for 8 months
• High degree of trust in mother

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Lord Lamings thoughts (1)

• No need to change legislative base
• Current foundation is robust
• Ensure good practice is shared
• Social workers do an incredibly difficult and
  sometimes dangerous job
• Quality social work is hampered by an over
  emphasis on targets

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Lord Lamings thoughts (2)

• People who deliberately harm others are skilled
  at hiding their activities
• Workers need to co-operate with each other and be
  tough minded. They need strong leadership
• The death is often caused by a family member, you
  cannot stop a person who is determined to kill

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How useful is a Public Inquiry?

• Focus on one death
• Can this be generalised to whole group?
• Is this evidence based
• Has much changed with 30 years of inquiries?

• Focus on worst outcomes can this promote best
  outcomes?
• Public ritual based on blame professional
  victimisation

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What they do not achieve

• Do not enhance professional confidence
• Do not assist recruitment to the profession
• More protocols less professional judgement
• Do not promote public confidence
• Re-enforce blame culture
• Fear of working in this field emphasised.

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What is needed

• Best working conditions
• Strong professional support and back up
• Clear protocols and procedures based on good
  professional judgement

• Supervision
• Training
• Employer Codes of Practice
• Reduced case loads
• Realistic budgets
• Professional values and beliefs
• Skills recognised and appreciated