News

I felt that I had to respond to Louisa Butt's letter (7 February) in which she stated that nobody writes positive letters about social work.

I qualified in 2000 and work in a referral and assessment team. This is often considered to be the most stressful social work setting. Although there are days when you ask yourself why you are doing the job, on the whole I can say that I find the job exciting and satisfying. There is no better feeling than a child or young person telling you that you have made a positive difference to their life.

I can't answer for others who continue to do the job, but this is why I battle against scarce resources, stressful days and working late on many occasions. In short, I love the job and can't see that changing. I also work with a very supportive team which is essential. Look after yourself and your colleagues should be the motto in all teams.

I wish Louisa good luck in her work and hope that she too is one of the lucky ones who can see through the difficulties and focus on the positives. I believe that she, and others like her, can. Power to you Louisa.

Janice Miller
Harrow
Middlesex

Direct payment positives

The award winning Cumbria Direct Payments Advice and Information service ("Direct to the client", 24 January) provides a very positive example of what can be achieved when service users are made aware of the benefits of direct payments, and of the crucial role played by a support organisation.

A bill currently going through the Scottish parliament will make it mandatory for Scottish local authorities to offer direct payments.

Direct Payments Scotland was set up to provide training, information and support to encourage uptake of direct payments north of the border. We will shortly be publishing a guide for local authorities seeking to set up and operate direct payment schemes. This covers such issues as putting in place the administrative structures, how people will manage their direct payments, and what training to provide staff. It also provides details of where to go for further information.

A recurring sentiment among some social work departments in Scotland has been that demand for direct payments does not exist. The Cumbrian example shows that, given the right information and support, the demand is there. Furthermore, with the right information and support to local authorities, they will be able to respond.

Liz Henderson
Project manager
Direct Payments Scotland

Attention to placements

We were pleased that Ofsted has expressed concern about children in council care residing outside their local authority (News, page 9, 24 January).

Practices for young people placed outside their authority need more attention. We are aware of situations where councils refuse to pay education costs because they think they are too high. In other cases councils withhold psychological support because a future placement in a "therapeutic community" is intended.

Poor practice can be caused by bureaucratic procedures, the fear of challenging councils because agencies may lose a customer, and some councils adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" approach to external placements.

We believe special attention should be given to this group of young people to ensure that they are not missing the benefits of Quality Protects.

Roy Grimwood
Social Care Association

Dual response needed

Concerns about GP training in drug addiction (News Analysis, 24 January) will resonate with anyone involved in mental health care at primary care level.

The Mental Aftercare Association's first national GP survey of mental health in primary care (1999) showed that GP training in mental health was limited and that more and more patients were presenting with a dual diagnosis (mental health and drug and alcohol problems).

The Department of Health is preparing a dual diagnosis implementation guide for issue in spring 2002. This recognition of the problem is encouraging, but needs action in two key areas. First, we must address the dual diagnosis training needs of both GPs and primary care mental health staff. Second, we must ensure that primary care trusts have the expertise to commission services for the growing number of people with complex needs.

Gil Hitchon
Chief executive
MACA (Mental Aftercare Association)

Housing for care leavers

I agree with the young people who say care leavers need better housing (News, page 16, 24 January). I am a project worker on a youth accommodation support project, and the fact is there isn't enough housing for care leavers or young people who simply cannot live at home for various reasons.

If social services can afford to pay out hundreds of thousands on B&Bs, surely that money would be better spent buying accommodation and supporting young people in it.

Mary Musselwhite
Bognor Regis

Sensitivity needed

An important element in social work is being sensitive to the pain that people suffer. Yvonne Roberts (column, 17 January) seems to lack this fundamental principle.

When Gordon Brown's baby girl died, I felt sadness for him and his partner. My daughter died in 1989 at the age of six days and the pain and memories of her remain forever.

Rather than condemning the powerful for their ability to use the media, why don't we use the media ourselves to tell the public about the pain that people go through?

My colleagues had great difficulty coping with my loss. I learned the importance of being positive in life. I learned that instead of being critical it was more valuable to work with the positives in people.

Rachel Mulcahy
Gnosall
Staffordshire