At the invitation of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, a team of expert practitioners is visiting the Territory this week to work with Social Development Department, the Ministry of Health and Social Development, the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force and others to undertake a child safeguarding review.  

The visiting team members have a strong operational background in child protection services and family law, with representation from the policy, legal, police and social work professions, including a practitioner with extensive experience in child and adolescent mental health. The Team is being led by the Chief Social Worker for England (Children and Families) who is the UK Government’s Senior Advisor for child and family social work and a Director in the Department for Education.

Pictured here are the two teams (BVI and UK) after receiving briefings from each other at the start of the assessment on their respective social, economic, political and cultural contexts. (Photo Credit:  GIS/Mr. Ronnielle Frazer)