This past week further information was revealed in the tragic case of Sara Sharif, the 10 year old girl who had been murdered in the hands of her father and step mother. It is difficult for most of us to fathom. This bright beautiful girl, full of potential and promise was treated in the most abhorrent way by those who should have been there to care for her. Her family, and, as a safety net, the state. But they all failed her miserably. Tragically. Horrifically. And because of that she died, brutally and painfully. No child should have to face that.
In the face of details of the case being further revealed Keir Starmer, our Prime Minister, called out ‘home schooling’ as the culprit. On the other hand some politicians said it was ‘smacking’ that caused the ultimate harm. They seem wholly incapable of addressing the real problem for which they are responsible - our failed social work and care system.
It is against this backdrop that I interviewed social worker Maggie Mellon this past week on The Pink Elephant. Maggie has been a social worker for forty years. Her knowledge and insight into the system is invaluable. And it’s clear it is not fit for purpose. Our care system perpetuates abuse, and poverty. It demonises families and in particular mothers. And it’s very costly. Did you know a child in a care home cost £200,000 per year? That Children’s Care Homes are tipped a ‘hot investment’ for private equity firms? Did you know that the Care Inspectorate developed trans guidance for Care Homes in which ‘affirmation only’ is the policy? And that if social workers and care workers do not promote gender ideology and affirm children in care they could be sacked? Did you know that if a boy identifies as a girl, he could be roomed with girl residents? That many of these children suffer sexual abuse and that this perpetuates abuse cycles?
Children in care homes are one of the most vulnerable members of society. Because they have no family to advocate for them, they are subject to the whims of the adults around them. Child voice? Only when it’s on message.
When we speak about the harms of gender ideology or politicisation of the classroom it is *these* children who face the sharpest end of the stick. And the system is not helping, in fact it’s making things worse. In this season of Christmas be thankful for your families and your security. In the meantime can we all make a pledge for 2025 to be brave enough to end the ideological shift in your own schools and communities so that - eventually- it will trickle down to these children? Please speak up, because their parents cannot. None of us want any more Sara Sharifs. May she rest in peace.
Thanks so much to Maggie for speaking to me and for her continued commitment to Scotland’s children and parents.
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