Protecting Britain's Children

Available for over a year

When a 17-month old London child died after horrific abuse by his family, it unleashed a barrage of criticism against British social services - the system which is supposed to protect children at risk. Social workers across the country found themselves under siege, demonised by the public and the media. Bound by the confidentiality and sensitivity of the cases they handle, social workers seldom have a chance to put their side of the story. Assignment gets a rare insight into the work of one child protection department to hear how they are coping with the pressure. We go with them to meet the families they try to change and they tell us of the difficult judgements they have to make and how they must balance dangers to children against scant resources available and a bureaucracy that often seems stacked against them.