18-05-2025
Reforms put child protection in danger, ministers warned
More children risk dying of abuse or neglect under government reforms to social services, the architect of previous reforms to child protection has warned.
Eileen Munro, who led an overhaul of social services after the Baby P scandal more than a decade ago, accused ministers of rushing through cost-cutting reforms, which she said could end in tragedy.
The Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which is going through the Lords, aims to move towards a more preventative model of child protection with input from a range of public services including education.
In a letter to The Times, however, Munro said this risked dismantling vital safeguards and having 'dangerous, unpredictable consequences' as she urged ministers to pause reforms.
'Particularly alarming is the shift of child protection responsibilities
