BASW statement on Rotherham inquiry
The findings of the independent inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham are both shocking and horrific and our thoughts are with the victims of these terrible crimes.
The report highlights complex system issues including: children, young people and professionals not being listened to, a lack of financial investment in children’s services, inadequate training for professionals, inconsistent findings from inspections, poor data and information systems. There is also a need to address the ethnic dimensions highlighted in the report.
Child sexual exploitation is an incredibly complex safeguarding issue, the bottom line is that children and young people must be listened to, believed and protected. There will be a need for long term therapeutic help for victims and some social workers are well placed to provide this ongoing support.
Local Authorities services are being systematically starved of resources and planned privatisation of services makes it hard to see how the society wide nature of this exploitation can be tackled in the future.