Recently in social work Category

A tougher GSCC? No thanks!

By Allan Norman on November 10, 2009 6:15 AM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks

allan norman 60.jpg by Allan Norman

You might have thought from the media coverage of the GSCC between its discovery of a backlog of conduct cases and its sacking of its Chief Executive, that its problem was that it wasn't tough enough, and the solution was that in future it would need to be tougher. Neither is the case.

Dame Denise Platt has commented here on the prominence of public protection on the GMC's website, contrasting that with the GSCC's website. I should like to make a different comparison.
Continue reading A tougher GSCC? No thanks!.

The GSCC needs reminding of whom it truly should serve

By Adam McCulloch on November 9, 2009 11:30 AM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Platt-Denise-70.gifby Denise Platt

Log onto the website of the General Medical Council (GMC). Pretty quickly you will read that "we protect patients by dealing firmly and fairly with serious concerns about doctors". The General Teaching Council says: "We work for children through teachers". Now look at the General Social Care Council website - you'll be hard pushed to find the words "protect the public" or any mention of people who use services on its home page or "about us" section.
Continue reading The GSCC needs reminding of whom it truly should serve.

Neo-liberal values threaten the very existence of social work

By Simeon Brody on November 5, 2009 4:00 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Rogowski, Steve web.jpgby Steve Rogowski, a social worker (children and families) with a local authority in NW England

The Social Work Taskforce is due to report later this year but I wonder if it will deal with one of the most fundamental issues. It will come up with (yet another) definition of social work, though whether this will cover why most people come into social work in the first place and thereafter often become so disillusioned is another matter.
Continue reading Neo-liberal values threaten the very existence of social work.

National college of social work faces leadership challenge

By Adam McCulloch on November 2, 2009 11:50 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Clarke, Nigel web 60.jpgby Nigel Clarke

Two years ago, I was asked by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) if I would chair an independent inquiry into a future professional body for pharmacists. The RPSGB's regulatory function had, arguably, swamped its professional body role, and when the government decided to create a new regulator, a review of what members wanted from their body was sensible.

Continue reading National college of social work faces leadership challenge.

Lisa Arthurworrey and the 'transformation' of children's services

By Simeon Brody on October 27, 2009 11:47 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Paul-Michael-Garrett.jpgSocial policy writer Paul Michael Garrett outlines some of his core criticisms of the direction of 'transformation' within children's services and explains why he has dedicated his third book to Lisa Arthurworrey.  

Last week it was revealed that the UK is currently in the midst of its longest ever recession, after figures showed that the economy contracted once again between July and September. As this crisis seeps into personal and professional lives, therefore, it is of the utmost importance for social workers, social work educators and students to begin to think much more critically about the direction of change within children's services.
Continue reading Lisa Arthurworrey and the 'transformation' of children's services.

Dawson-Balls Bust Up: Social Work Strikes Back

By Simeon Brody on October 26, 2009 4:26 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Peter-Beresford-60.jpgby Peter Beresford, service user and professor of social policy at Brunel University

We may do well to mark 23 October 2009 in our diaries as the day that mainstream social work started fighting back. This was the day that Hilton Dawson, much welcomed new chief executive of BASW, confronted the Children's Secretary, Ed Balls, over his refusal to reduce the inspection and recording bureaucracy that keeps social workers away from face to face contact with service users. Such contact is crucial to provide support and stop things going wrong.
Continue reading Dawson-Balls Bust Up: Social Work Strikes Back.

Social workers: What not to wear

By Simeon Brody on October 22, 2009 4:12 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Corser, Peter web.jpgby Peter Corser, a mental health social worker

Over the summer holidays my mom looked after my daughter on a few occasions. The arrangement entailed me dropping her off on the way to work. My mother never failed on any of these occasions to look me up and down in that way that mothers do with their scruffy offspring and ask me if I was going home to get changed before going to work.
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Outcomes 1 Needs 0 - but assessments are getting better

By Adam McCulloch on October 20, 2009 1:12 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks
Simon Stevens for web.jpgby Simon Stevens

Last week I had my first proper outcome-based "review" now that I have reached my "maximum rehab potential" since the start of my Guillain Barré syndrome in January. I have always been nervous of reviews and I imagaine social workers can also be nervous when they have to work with a well known, empowered and rather vocal service user. With 17 years' experience behind me, I feel that the balance of power has started to shift in my favour.

Continue reading Outcomes 1 Needs 0 - but assessments are getting better .

Defending social work is not the job of the GSCC

By Simeon Brody on October 19, 2009 12:27 PM | 3 Comments | No TrackBacks
rosie-varley-60.jpgby Rosie Varley, GSCC chair

The media portrayal of social work since the tragic death of Baby Peter has been both saddening and frustrating. Misconceptions and sweeping criticisms of social work were, and continue to be, commonplace. The absence of a strong voice consistently speaking up for social workers has been striking.
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BASW wakes from its slumber to help reclaim social work

By Simeon Brody on October 15, 2009 3:25 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks
Rogowski, Steve web.jpgby Steve Rogowski, a social worker (children and families) with a local authority in NW England

At last BASW seems to have awoken from its slumbers and started to voice the concerns about what has happened to social work. The appointment of Hilton Dawson (despite, as he acknowledges, his New Labour credentials) as the new chief executive earlier this year, no doubt has something to do with this.
Continue reading BASW wakes from its slumber to help reclaim social work.
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