September 2008 Archives

By Sally Gillen

Revolution is one of those words frequently misused. And in social care it's no different. Initiatives, schemes and new programmes are often hyped-up as revolutionary - usually by those who have designed them - when they are really nothing of the sort. Personalisation, however, is a rare example of change worthy of the 'R' word.

Child Protective Services has put a large emphasis on family preservation and maltreatment prevention. But through a close examination of studies nationwide, Duerr Berrick concludes that while prevention is well-intended, it is often ineffective and a diversion from the essence of foster care.

"The theme we chose for Social Work Day this year is 'We Stand Beside You - Nga Pou Tukutahi'. This describes the daily dedication that social workers demonstrate in standing beside the people they work with every day, and their ethical commitment to standing up for human rights and social justice".

  by Mithran Samuel

Prime minister Gordon Brown today promised to legislate to end child poverty by 2020, a move which has been warmly welcomed by children's charities.

But what will this mean in practice?

By Sally Gillen

This is not a trick question: What do you need to do to be struck off if you're a doctor? I only ask because today it was reported that paeditrician David Southall, who played a central part in the Sally Clark case, is now free to return to child protection work. This is a man who decided, after watching a documentary, that Clark's husband, Steve, had murdered their two sons. He was banned from child protection work for three years in 2005 and the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence argued that the ruling was "unduly lenient". 

by Andrew Mickel

'Health campaigns work' would be the simple message to take away from the news that the rate of MRSA infection has fallen across the NHS following a big push to tell staff to wash their hands. 

By Sally Gillen

Student and newly-qualified social workers should see the conduct case involving Ruth Hughes as something of a cautionary tale about the importance of speaking up and asking for advice when they feel out of their depth. 

by Bronagh Miskelly

Young people in the UK have, admittedly unknowingly, been subject to a tidal wave of children's policy over their lifetimes. The funding and initiatives intended to help them grow up are barely established before they are reversed, with plan often lasting only a few years.

By Maria Ahmed

The department of health is publishing research defining nine personality types who are most likely to become among heavy drinkers that cost the NHS in England £2.7bn year. It has not broken down the types by profession, although it would not be hard to guess which might figure highly. Doctors, journalists and politicians spring to mind, but how about social workers? I don't know if anyone has researched this, but I would suspect high stress levels caused by frequent dealings with some of society's most difficult and damaged people could lead some professionals to hit the bottle. Earlier this year it was reported that a social worker tragically died after drinking eight bottles of wine due to stress. 

By Mithran Samuel

The Press Complaints Commission has struck a blow for responsible media coverage of mental health with a ruling on a piece by the Daily Sport on suicide.

By Maria Ahmed

The new man heading up Jersey's child abuse investigation has said he believes there are still people with information who have not come forward. Michael Gradwell, who led the investigation into the deaths of the Chinese cocklepickers at Morecombe Bay, has pledged  to get to the truth. But if a recent row between the Guernsey Press - the paper of the neighbouring Channel island - and Jersey's chief minister is anything to go by, Gradwell has his work cut out.

By Maria Ahmed

Warning to all diehard red social workers who think (or hope) they have gone away - the Tories are at it again. A new report today, published by the Tory centre for social justice - headed up by Iain Duncan Smith - slams Labour's record on children in care and blames the government's failure to invest in the workforce.

By Bronagh Miskelly

Beware that child skulking behind the bins with his mobile or digital camera - he may look like he's playing at James Bond but in fact he is out to catch you in the act of dropping litter or some other antisocial or 'environmental crime'.

By Maria Ahmed

A privately-run Northamptonshire care home that was ordered to close by the Commission for Social Care Inspection after two residents died will remain open following an appeal.  

by Keith Hassell

A cutting edge piece of theatre about youth gangs, teenage knife crime, attempted rape and murder is very timely given the spate of killings on our streets in recent months. I was lucky enough to catch it before it ended its London run last week.

By Daniel Lombard

Although 98% of social workers believe that having an intimate relationship with a client is wrong, many practitioners have been hauled before the General Social Care Council's conduct committee for this reason.

This conjures up seedy images of predatory practitioners exploiting vulnerable clients for sexual gratification.

However, the transcripts of hearings show some of the inappropriate liaisons blossomed into permanent relationships.

 By Derren Hayes

BBC drama Fiona's story (Sunday 31 August, 9pm, BBC1) promised an unsensational exploration of the fallout from a father and husband being busted for viewing child pornography on the internet.