By Nigel LeaneyThe decision to shut Reading University's social work department was made in the the interest of the balance sheet, not need
The recent disclosure that our local university (Reading) is closing its doors to the training of nurses and social workers in 2011 is depressing news). Particularly so in view of the dearth of social workers and the call to rally 5,000 back to the beleaguered profession.
As always, the move is accountant-driven and will have a devastating impact on the social care needs of the Reading community.
The message that this closure gives is hardly encouraging to our next generation of health and social workers. The more reactionary our politics become the more our public services become dirty words. And social workers, already fashioned into voodoo dolls, become freshly pin-struck by our tabloid press with every unfolding human tragedy involving the profession. Since the daily diet of social workers involves human tragedy, the association becomes pretty much inevitable.
It's a privilege as well as a duty to provide a placement for bright, enthusiastic students on their way to what will, it is hoped, be meaningful roles. We don't do glittering careers. And besides, who needs identifying with fool's gold and some bloke called Gary? Unless you're a banker or someone of similar ilk.
Supervising students is a two-way process. As well as managing, educating and, one hopes, inspiring, having students around saves us from death-by-computer-screen and helps keep the questions coming on your own practice. Reflective practice is never more reflective than when the person looking back at you is different from your ego-ridden self. I only hope that the days of students passing through our service has not passed.
How much we value trained social workers depends on how much we value our community. Do we still consider ourselves to be part of a society that needs workers and helpers to support members of our community in time of special need? And are we prepared to pay for this through taxation? Some have already spoken.
With so many corporate tax avoidance schemes, the government has already given the nod to the mega-wealthy to let the little people pay for all public services. In which case, a toilet cleaner may pay proportionately more tax than a private equity business executive. Now Reading University seems to be voting according to its balance sheet rather than supporting the needs of the community of which it is ostensibly part. Perhaps instead it will open a few courses to tackle that oxymoron: business ethics.
Nigel Leaney manages a mental health residential service
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