It was reported on the Epping Forest Guardian website that almost a fifth of jobs in Essex's child social services were unfilled before the coronavirus outbreak (Almost a fifth of Essex's child social services jobs unfilled before coronavirus outbreak, April 3), with concerns the crisis could now put vulnerable children at even greater risk.

This situation really should not come as any real surprise to anyone given the low status our society has given to this very important job over many years and the impossibly large case load each social worker usually has.

They are correctly held to account when mistakes are made, but this often amounts to pure vilification in our tabloid press. When was the last time their many successful interventions were celebrated? When was the last time we heard of the hundreds if not thousands of lives they have successfully turned around.

It seems to me that this is yet a further example of how our society is now reaping the results of the very warped values that have dominated our society for my entire adult life.

Independent Loughton Councillor Stephen Murray