The death of Baby P has dominated the news in the past week and shocked the nation with its tale of familial abuse and failed social care and bureaucracy. Baby P died in August 2007 after months of abuse at the hands of his mother and her boyfriend, as well as one of her lodgers. Public outrage over the case has grown as more details of the story are emerging.

A BBC Panorama programme to air on the evening of 17 November, “What happened to Baby P?”, reports that Haringey Council, whose social services oversaw Baby P’s case, rejected the advice of a senior social worker as well as the police who wanted Baby P taken away from his mother and placed in foster care. It also claims that the social worker who was in charge of Baby P was overloaded with cases – 18 in total – while the recommended amount is 12 at the most. This confluence of decisions and events contributed to the mother keeping her child and eventually causing his death.

Many are now asking how many other children are now undergoing the same suffering, and what can be done about it. Christian organisations are working all the time to support troubled families and vulnerable children.

The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) is a Christian charity providing professional advice, support, training and resources in all areas of safeguarding children and for those affected by abuse.

Care for the Family works to support families hurting because of family breakdown.

Fegans is a Christian social work organisation that helps vulnerable children around the UK.