Gove orders independent review of children's social work

Junior children's minister Tim Loughton and Professor Munro of the London School of Economics are set to announce the remit of the review today, which will include looking at how to remove the barriers and bureaucracy that prevent social workers spending time with children and families.

Loughton is also due to write to all chairs of local safeguarding children boards and directors of children's services to confirm that the overview report and the executive summary of all new serious case reviews should be published in full and anonymised, except where it would affect the welfare of any surviving children and their siblings.

The government has also confirmed its intention to scrap the ContactPoint database "as soon as possible".

Commenting on the review, Hilton Dawson, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, said: "It is great news that the government is taking this fundamentally important matter so seriously that it is prepared to address it within its first 50 days. The previous government spent years after coming in to office before horrendous child abuse tragedies forced it into some form of action. Social workers are the best people to protect children if the government gives the profession the support it needs — we are hugely encouraged by a government that is prepared to act."