September 2009 Archives

Children will suffer if parents are forced into low-paid jobs

By Adam McCulloch on September 30, 2009 1:42 PM | No TrackBacks
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Bob-Holman-60.jpgParents forced into work will not be pulled out of poverty by low-paid jobs and their children will suffer by their absence

by Bob Holman

Government minister Stephen Timms wants both parents in poor families off benefits and into work. If necessary, they should be compelled to do so. The proposal is enthusiastically supported by the right-wing TaxPayers' Alliance.


Continue reading Children will suffer if parents are forced into low-paid jobs.

Respect service users' belief systems, however bizarre

By Adam McCulloch on September 29, 2009 5:26 PM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
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leaney for blog web.jpgby Nigel Leaney

Throughout history and across the world people have lived, and been willing to die, for their beliefs. Our belief systems form our values and our self-identity - what it is to be me. They are precious. Not many of us would like to be told that our view of the world is fundamentally wrong. So to treat people's beliefs as a symptom of an illness - delusions - to be eradicated by medication can cause a loss of self-esteem and disempowerment.

Continue reading Respect service users' belief systems, however bizarre.

'Call crime against disabled people by its real name; don't tell me about safeguarding'

By Adam McCulloch on September 29, 2009 5:16 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Simon Stevens for web.jpgby Simon Stevens

I have known about adult protection or "safeguarding adults" as it is often called, but now, sadly, I have had some first-hand experience as a service user and, frankly, "we are not amused".
This appears to be one area where professionals revert to old habits and any notion of service user involvement is lost as well as the concept of service users being treated with any kind of equality with the general public.
The language used to describe the "bad things" which happen to service users is very different from that used in regard to the general public.

Continue reading 'Call crime against disabled people by its real name; don't tell me about safeguarding'.

Yvonne Hossack: Where were the social workers and district nurses?

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 29, 2009 1:43 PM | No TrackBacks
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KLINE-Roger.gifby Roger Kline

Yvonne Hassocks is a solicitor who has dedicated her life to helping the elderly and disabled challenge the power of local authorities to shut down care homes. Her work has saved 80 care homes from closure. Age Concern says that the principles she has tirelessly fought for are "incredibly important".
Continue reading Yvonne Hossack: Where were the social workers and district nurses?.

The Samaritans represent the true spirit of the voluntary sector

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 28, 2009 2:04 PM | No TrackBacks
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Peter-Beresford-60.jpgby Peter Beresford

Some of the big third sector organisations in our field have made it difficult to be sure what the unique contribution of voluntary organisations is any longer. Much of their money comes from the state, putting a dampener on their preparedness to bite the hand that feeds them.
Continue reading The Samaritans represent the true spirit of the voluntary sector.

Social inclusion and employment: minister's disability tour makes final stop

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 25, 2009 3:28 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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Jonathan-Shaw.jpgby Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

My week of visiting disability organisations across Britain has come to an end - and I have learnt a great deal about the experiences and expectations of disabled people.
Continue reading Social inclusion and employment: minister's disability tour makes final stop.

Is Duncan-Smith benefits plan an end to Conservative welfare bashing?

By Adam McCulloch on September 25, 2009 2:25 PM | No TrackBacks
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Heng web blog.jpgby Simon Heng

It's party conference season, and, not so long ago, we could rely on the Conservative Party conference to produce some headline-grabbing speeches bashing all of us benefits claimants. We would all be castigated as scroungers, living a life of luxury on the back of other people's labours. But things are changing.

Continue reading Is Duncan-Smith benefits plan an end to Conservative welfare bashing? .

Minister's disability tour day 4: employment, upfront payments and Remploy

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 24, 2009 5:36 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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Jonathan-Shaw.jpgby Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

I am coming to the end of my week of visits to disability organisations across Britain - and it has been very useful to learn about the experiences of disabled people.
Continue reading Minister's disability tour day 4: employment, upfront payments and Remploy.

Minister's disability tour day 3: Encouraging people to report hate crime

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 24, 2009 10:06 AM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Jonathan-Shaw.jpgby Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

I am now well into my week of visits to disability organisations across Britain to learn about the experiences of disabled people.

While in Wales yesterday, I visited a Bridging the Gap project run by Scope. It develops volunteering opportunities for older and disabled people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities to help prepare for work. People volunteer at organisations and projects across Wales. This is a wonderful project which has real results. One of the volunteering programmes involves regular singing groups to increase confidence, and I was lucky enough to join in the singing led by one of the volunteers. I even led one of the songs myself!
Continue reading Minister's disability tour day 3: Encouraging people to report hate crime.

Tea rooms and training: minister's disability tour reaches Wales

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 22, 2009 5:28 PM | 6 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Jonathan-Shaw.jpgby Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

I am visiting disability organisations across Britain this week to learn about the experiences of disabled people.

Yesterday I visited a Right to Control event in Newquay and saw a fascinating 'Sand Chair' scheme which gives disabled people easier access to the beach.
Continue reading Tea rooms and training: minister's disability tour reaches Wales.

How do people with learning disability get jobs?

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 22, 2009 11:54 AM | 4 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Richard-West.jpgby Richard West

With the latest employment figures for people with learning disabilities even lower than we had been led to believe, 7.3% instead of over 10%, the chances of people with learning disabilities getting a job seem bleaker than ever.

Continue reading How do people with learning disability get jobs?.

Learning about the experiences of disabled people in Britain

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 21, 2009 5:12 PM | 10 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Jonathan-Shaw.jpgby Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People

Throughout this week I will be visiting disability organisations across Britain to learn about the experiences of disabled people.
Continue reading Learning about the experiences of disabled people in Britain.

Bereavement and autism: the value of reminiscing

By Adam McCulloch on September 20, 2009 7:22 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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Jennifer-Harvey-1.gifWorking with a bereaved service user, Jennifer Harvey, finds the true value of photo albums as opposed to digital pictures


"I'm fine aren't I, and my dad's fine" is a regular refrain from Dave*. Ever since his mum died he's been obsessed with his own mortality, and that of his dad. You might say it comes to us all, but when you have autism it's a harder lesson to learn.
As changes go, the death of a parent is a big one, particularly when you still depend on that parent for everyday support. Dave's parents thought ahead and encouraged him to be independent, and to live in his own flat nearby.
Continue reading Bereavement and autism: the value of reminiscing.

The cuts to social care that really hurt aren't always the most obvious

By Adam McCulloch on September 19, 2009 10:37 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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The credit crunch has left indirect support services facing the threat of extinction while frontline services appear intact

Heng web blog.jpgby Simon Heng

You might be forgiven for thinking that service users, and many disabled people in general, are insulated from the effects of the current credit crunch. With low inflation and little change in levels of benefits, reasonably secure funding for care packages, direct payments and personalisation, we'd look to be more secure than most people.

Continue reading The cuts to social care that really hurt aren't always the most obvious.

What is world class commissioning?

By Adam McCulloch on September 18, 2009 2:10 PM | No TrackBacks
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Long,-Alan60.gifby Alan Long, chief executive of domiciliary care provider Careforce

World class commissioning is an admirable aspiration. But what does it mean in practice?
Excellent commissioning of domiciliary care for older and disabled people will be vital to meet the growing demographic challenge. Most people want to be cared for in their own homes for as long as possible. Keeping people healthy and well cared for at home will be vital to manage health costs too.

Continue reading What is world class commissioning? .

It's time for social workers and councils to get positive with the media

By Adam McCulloch on September 18, 2009 1:58 PM | 2 Comments | No TrackBacks
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bromley-derry-60.gifby Kim Bromley-Derry, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services

 
We, as a sector, have not yet been as successful as we might have hoped at promoting the importance and complexity of keeping children safe or the dedication and commitment of the staff who do so. I say "yet" because we must not stop now. Now is the time to be clear about what we do and why. This story is not  just for the media, but for all those who contribute to our success - our workforce, our communities and policymakers. While not allowing media activity to get in the way of the real job at hand, keeping children safe, we must also acknowledge that public opinion does affect what we do and how well we do it.

Continue reading It's time for social workers and councils to get positive with the media.

ISSPs are doing their job, don't knock them

By Adam McCulloch on September 17, 2009 12:11 PM | No TrackBacks
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Woodward,-Dean-60x70.gifby Dean Woodward

Portsmouth University's critical study of the effectiveness of ISSPs is wide of the mark argues youth offending specialist Dean Woodward

The call to "scrap" intensive supervision and surveillance programmes (ISSP) by the University of Portsmouth seems incredibly bold.
I don't know if it is the assumption that the snapshot survey in Portsmouth of two youth offending teams is representative of the 157 across England and Wales, or if it is the sensationalised quotes from the clients ("I should have gone to custody"; "I can't get out of bed", etc) that I find the most surprising. Or it may be the simplistic solutions proposed, such as needing to find a new environment and new peers, and to teach job-related skills to reduce re-offending.

Continue reading ISSPs are doing their job, don't knock them.

Social Work Action: A breath of fresh air in a time of turmoil

By Simeon Brody, community editor, on September 14, 2009 2:55 PM | No TrackBacks
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Peter-Beresford-60.jpgby Peter Beresford

Amidst all the turmoil facing social work and in strong and creative contrast, was the Social Work Action Network (SWAN) conference held on 10-11th September 2009 in Bath. As a plethora of government reviews, working groups and task forces signal the uncertainty facing social work at a time of crisis, SWAN's fourth annual conference was like a breath of fresh air. Practitioners, educators, service users and students came together in force to challenge the negative pressures now facing social work and to work out their own ways forward.
Continue reading Social Work Action: A breath of fresh air in a time of turmoil.

Mental health tool is great at identifying exactly what we probably can't do

By Adam McCulloch on September 11, 2009 10:56 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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Corser, Peter web.jpgby Peter Corser

We are being asked to adopt the Yorkshire pathway for working with our client group - people with mental health problems. My initial glee has been dampened now it has been explained that this will not allow me to adopt a gruff manner and tell my clients to pull thee bloody socks up. Oh well.

Continue reading Mental health tool is great at identifying exactly what we probably can't do.

Social care funding: Is private sector pulling the strings?

By Peter Beresford on September 7, 2009 2:28 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Peter-Beresford-60.jpgby Peter Beresford
The political party conference season is almost upon us. Worryingly, this year it comes within the time frame of the public consultation over the future funding of social care. This is a contentious enough issue at the best of times. Social care has long been starved of adequate funding. As a result tighter and tighter means and needs tests have come to apply.
Continue reading Social care funding: Is private sector pulling the strings?.

Staff self-worth is at stake in child protection

By Mike McNabb on September 6, 2009 7:34 AM | 5 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Depleted social work departments not only increase the risks to children in need of help, they harm those who work in them too, writes Camila Batmanghelidjh. It's not just to children who are being abused that we owe quality care structures. The staff working in social care also deserve better.


Continue reading Staff self-worth is at stake in child protection.

Social workers' bravery should be recognised and nurtured

By Adam McCulloch on September 4, 2009 1:55 PM | 5 Comments | No TrackBacks
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Lloyd,-Paul-new.gifby Paul Lloyd

Nobody talks about bravery in social work but there are many situations in which social workers have to dig deep to use resources deep within themselves to be able to act professionally and safely. How do we address this in training and reverse the drop-out rate?

From my recollection of being a social work student and, from my experience as a practice assessor, I would argue that the importance of personal courage has never been recognised as a principle feature of professional practice as it is taught at colleges and in the field.  
However, in my role as a trade union officer I am confronted, on a daily basis, with courageous interventions carried out by social workers done so at considerable risk to their own professional and physical well-being.

Continue reading Social workers' bravery should be recognised and nurtured.

Tim Loughton on Serious Case Reviews

By Gary Brigden, Webmaster on September 3, 2009 10:52 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
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Tim-Loughton-small.jpgwrites Tim Loughton

The reaction to Baby Peter's tragic death has been a defining period in the history of English social work. The negative publicity which has arisen from this horrific case has had a disastrous impact on a public service already crippled by high vacancy rates and low public esteem. This has to be put right. It goes without saying that we need a child protection system that is second to none, but we must also ensure that it has the public's full confidence.
Continue reading Tim Loughton on Serious Case Reviews.
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