By Emma Maier
The government has announced the members of the Social Work Taskforce, including The Sun's agony aunt Deidre Sanders. When I saw the news it made me think back, with a shudder, to the press conference that Ed Balls held about the Baby P case. Instead of using the event to find answers to the questions that really mattered about the case, a shameless reporter from The Sun instead opted to plug the petition the paper had run demanding the sacking of the social workers involved in the case - and worst still, Balls appeared to endorse it.
But am I wrong to tar the appointment of Deidre Sanders with the same brush? Is it a clever move to represent the popular public and get the media on board?
The Sun would have us believe that Deidre is in a good position to know what the public at large think about most things, by virtue of her bulging post bag (assuming that the letters she responds to on her page are genuine). There is certainly something in the fact that the paper had a lot of readers and their opinions are of consequence (not necessarily because they are informed opinions, but because public perception matters).
Perhaps more importantly, though, giving The Sun the inside track on the taskforce could be a clever because it is always more difficult to slate something you are involved in. Having the popular press on side would help convey some of the important messages to come out of the taskforce. And the rest of the taskforce seems to offer a good spread of stakeholders fromchildren's and adults' services.
However, I can't help thinking that this could be a media stunt that is in danger of backfiring. Firstly, what does Deidre really have to the offer the taskforce in terms of knowledge and understanding of modern social work? Secondly, what does her presence mean for the credibility of the taskforce with key stakeholders? Thirdly, will The Sun toe the line?
I'm not sure what to think, but I suppose time will tell.
What do you think? Join the debate At Community Care's CareSpace forum.
UPDATE 28.01.09: Deidre spoke to Community Care about her place on the taskforce. Read what she had to say here.
I can't believe this, it makes a complete mockery of Social Work Profesionals. There is only one practitioner on the task force and instead of having another practitioner they appoint an agony aunt. This is just a government stunt and shows Ed Balls has no real idea of what he wants to achieve.
Deidre Saunders may be a very fine person, I don't know but can she really say what social workers need to carry out their task more efficiently?, is she willing to accept any responsibilty if things go wrong?,because it's commonly known that social care needs to improve but the task force needs to start from the inside in providing the necessary resourses, does Deidre have the right training for the task?
The Sun agony aunt - agh ! Words fail me !
It is a staggeringly pathetic, ridiculous appointment; I despair.
With the appointment of an "agnony aunt" for the Social Work Task Force, I thought about a comment someone made on another media outlet in stating that the panel was incomplete with the exclusion of front line social workers. So, with being thrust into the public eye lately and the front line experience to boot, why isn't Nevres Kamal part of this task force?
I agree with Peter. What kind of message does it send to the general public about the social work profession that a tabloid agony aunt can take a role in the task force's review. And one that has run an aggressively anti-social work agenda. It says to me this is always intended to be a publicity stunt.
Agony Aunt may sound like a great idea, but again, we have someone who is not a social worker, who does not fully understand what the socail work profession is about, and yes, who will take the fall if something happened?
As a professional social worker of many years, a locum covering manily mental health, and as a foster parent, I know the pressure that someone who works for social services are up against. What is needed is to employ professional social workers who are qualified within the role that they are appointed. Not some newly qualified social worker being given and moulded into the role of case manager or case co-ordinator without years of experience and the adult hood to be responsible and have such a high case load that they are unable to properly operate within the framework. The responsibility that they have is too heavy a burden for many social workers in this field, yet they are supposed to work efficiently and be responsibe for their actions. Having a young person inexperienced social worker in charge of a case load of complicated issues is, in my books, a disater waiting to happen. I have worked in social services, have many years experience as a Forensic social worker, yet would not take up a role within the Child Protection field because of the high demand and responsibility they have to work with.
We have seen several social workers being deregistered because of their actions.
Baby P is an example, a Social Worker in a high position who was obviously not qualified to hold the position she had is concerning. Her attitude towards what occured is of great concern because of her opinionated actions after the fact. She should never be allowed to work again as a social worker or if so, should be supervised and not hold a senior position.
Regards Reverend Jack Middlehurst