An ex teacher here and my experience of social workers was shocking. (Never turning up to interviews when the school had paid for cover for me to free me up, barely knowing the child in question's name, etc etc). I had hoped things had improved over the years since I left teaching or that my appalling experience of them was peculiar to that particular city...
Over 2 years ago we got new neighbours who, it turns out, are known to the police, SS, you name it - and we have had to contact the SS, NSPCC, and had the police contact us re. the way they treat their kids and whether we'd give evidence in court if it came to it.... Months later and these kids (one a toddler, one aged about 5) are still in the sole care and at the mercy of these two violent, abusive and frankly, creepy people. Once we even saw the police take the man away at 1 AM but leave the kids alone in the care of the (drunken) woman. It makes no sense.
I think that SS have learned nothing from the high profile cases of the past. If it's a case of money and resources well you'd still prioritise and get these two kids away from a pair of violent, abusive drunks, surely?
The piece de resistance came a few weeks back when I watched the woman throw their elderly, cancer ridden dog to the concrete drive, the man kick it, and the younger child stand impassively and watch as if it was a boring TV programme. Which made me wonder what else she has witnessed, if that was so mundane to her. RSPCA inspector told me there is often a correlation between child abuse and animal abuse. So other agencies come into contact with these people, too and are unable to act (we were told they could only pursue the case if I'd filmed it on my phone or two independent lots of neighbours had seen it). I think that's insane. I'd happily sand up in court and give evidence if it meant those kids were got to safety - why is my word lesser than the abusers'? (When confronted, they predictably denied everything but then quickly had the dog PTS due to the cancer they hadn't bothered about til a card from the RSPCA came through their door).
SS send someone out briefly, then sign them off. We have seen this continually over two years. My kids have to listen to this toddler and Reception aged kids being called - all the worst words you can imagine - and we can't do a thing about it.
Some abusers can be credible. Next door, the man is cogent (but the woman makes Bez look like Mary Berry). He seems to do the talking when they're in trouble and he must be convincing.
Family Courts don't often make a no direct contact order - I was told it was in less than 1% of cases. It's a bit like the OJ Simpson case - the civil case following being cleared in court. Hopefully, this person is now waiting for the knock on the door. Abusive men are often teflon.
In these cases people always say 'Where were the neighbours? Why didn't they complain to the authorities?" Truth is we're complaining ourselves blue in the face and no-one who has the power to act, is acting. The police need enough evidence to persuade the CPS and the SS would rather sign these people off, even if they're made aware of them, than add to their caseloads. The occasional child death is probably collateral damage, to them.
Re my neighbours I have left a paper (well email) trail a mile wide so if anything does happen, I will scream from the rooftops that we tried our best to get those kids help and get the authorities to get them out of there. As have other neighbours.