VULNERABLE PEOPLE: BABY P

Vulnerable People: Baby P

[Name of the institute]Vulnerable People: Baby P

Introduction

Life is beautiful! Family, friends and relationships play their important role in increasing the joys and spirit of our lives. Unity and close associations with the family members are very significant in enjoying the true essence of life. In this fast paced and technological updated era people find less time to enjoy this pleasure in the form of family that God has gifted to us. In order to cope up with this fast paced and rapidly changing society and to stay abreast with the world families are adopting practices that are not traditional. For example when parents are busy in their work life or due to some other reason they do not pay attention to the well being of their kids which in turn raises the question of child's safety. As a result of this situation a large number of children are taken into care by social workers. The aim and objective of this essay is also to talk about vulnerable children. With this regard specific case of Baby P is considered.

Background of the Case

It was on August of 2007, when a child with the name of Peter Connelly later known as baby P found dead on his coat. Baby P was under the registration of Haringey Council. As soon as this baby was registered the Council made various efforts but was not sufficient enough to take the child under the custody. It was revealed through the post mortem examination that the baby P's rib was broken and 50 different injuries were discovered. This incident criticized the role of social workers and the role of local authorities. After this event social workers became active and play their role in saving the life of children who are suspected of danger. Since then, there is a shocking upsurge in the number of children taken into custody (Steve, 2012, A-1).

What Makes the Individual/Group of People Vulnerable?

There are variegated factors on the basis of which an individual or a child can be regarded as vulnerable. In case of Baby P also there were some factors that clearly mention Baby P as a vulnerable child. These factors are as follows:



Age

Accepted and established guidelines purport that children from birth to six years are always vulnerable. Baby P was just 17 months older. The age of Baby P makes him a vulnerable child (Action for Child Protection, 2012, 2).



Physical Disability

Regardless of age of the child a handicapped child is also considered as vulnerable. Baby P is vulnerable because he was just 17 months old he was not physically able to remove himself from danger or from anything that may cause significant harm to him. He was not physically active and able to remove from the injuries that Baby P's mother and her boyfriend used to cause him (Action for Child Protection, 2012, 2).

Mental Disability

Another factor that determines the vulnerability of an individual is mental disability. Despite the age factor those children ...