What's New in Social Care and Healthcare this Week? (22/01/24)
The news cycle never stops and that's especially true in the worlds of social care and healthcare. There's always something to keep up to date with and that's exactly why we do these weekly news roundups here at Sanctuary Personnel.
We aim to provide easy-to-digest, handily packaged news stories you can take onboard even when busy.
1. Increase in Modern Slavery in Social Care
An exclusive report by the Guardian has found that there's been a surge in modern slavery in the UK's social care sector following eased immigration rules to fill job vacancies. Over 800 potential victims were identified last year, a significant increase from previous figures. Workers, mainly overseas on short-term visas, face exploitation, poor living conditions, and unfair wages.
The increase in cases follows the government's 2022 decision to grant temporary visas to foreign care workers. This has led to concerns among trade unions and regulatory bodies over exploitation and unethical practices. The Home Office has asserted its commitment to combating modern slavery and supporting victims.
2. Schools Increasingly Left to Care for At-Risk Children
Schools across England report an increasing number of children facing domestic abuse, neglect, and homelessness are being denied help due to over-stretched social services. Cases that would have previously received social worker intervention are now being passed back to schools.
This is causing emotional strain on education staff who lack the expertise and resources to handle such cases, leading some schools to provide counselling for their safeguarding teams. Despite efforts by social workers, they are overwhelmed due to funding cuts, impacting their ability to provide consistent support. Schools are struggling with insufficient government resources to manage these escalating issues effectively.
3. Year-Long Delays Being Experienced by Children Awaiting Mental Health Treatment
Nearly half a million children in the UK are awaiting mental health treatment, with some experiencing years-long delays, as revealed by NHS data analysed by The Independent. The figures indicate a record 496,897 under-18s were referred for treatment by GPs, primarily for anxiety and depression.
In some areas, children wait up to four and a half years for professional help, with the national average being around 22 months. This situation, termed a "scandal" by health experts, underscores a growing mental health crisis and urgent calls for systemic reform in addressing the staggering demand for child mental health services.
4. A Word of Warning from the WHO on AI-Based Healthcare Technologies
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about the potential dangers of deploying healthcare technologies based on artificial intelligence (AI) in lower-income countries. A new report from WHO highlights the need for ethical guidelines to ensure that AI developments in healthcare are not solely driven by technology companies and wealthy nations.
The organisation warns of the risks of inequities and biases if models are not trained on data from diverse populations. The rapid adoption of generative AI, including models like ChatGPT, in healthcare has necessitated updated guidelines to manage risks and protect public health globally.
5. Sister Doesn't Blame Social Services for Death of 2-Year-Old Sibling
Melanie Battersby, the sister of two-year-old Bronson Battersby, has expressed no blame towards social services for his death in Skegness. Bronson is believed to have starved after his father's heart attack. Despite several visits by a social worker to their home without response, Melanie believes the authorities did their best within their limitations.
Lincolnshire County Council is conducting a rapid review, and the Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating potential missed opportunities in the case. The national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will decide on further steps after the review, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.
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