He had told Ms Eastwood, a social worker assigned to the family's case, the children were "in danger" if they went back with Miss Willis, the court heard.

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Ministers are modelling their strategy on the family intervention project adopted by the last Labour government, in which a single social worker is sent in to gain an overview of the problems facing a family and to recommend the best course of action.

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The Health Minister also proposed new social care professions should be developed, such as family care workers, who could combine the skills of the health visitor and social worker.

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