[United Kingdom] ‘It has Never Been More Important to Come Together and Support Each Other’

A child protection social worker describes how her work and child protection has changed due to the coronavirus.

She emphasizes the importance of the National Health Service, which has kept the country going during these unprecedented times. She also mentions that child protection and safeguarding are the most underfunded and overworked areas of public service. Furthermore, as health visitors are no longer carrying out safeguarding home visits, social workers find themselves with more tasks.

As social workers, they protect children and young people from many health and social issues: domestic violence, substance misuse, neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, mental health problems and child exploitation. Now, as schools are closing, social workers are losing key partners; teachers and school workers spend enough time with children to notice and report injuries, odd behaviour or school absences. Without school, children run the risk of being alone with abuse.

She stays on the ‘frontline’ irrespective of any virus. She and her co-workers do not have protective clothing or equipment, but they still visit homes and hospitals. They come into contact with others several times a day, and cannot work from home despite the need for an office-based environment to prevent burnout and decrease stress. Yet, focusing on the social work mission, they feel invigorated to continue to help vulnerable children in these difficult times.