July 2009 Archives

  by Daniel Lombard

"Why is everyone [in social care] so polite?" asks Barry Sheerman, whose job as the head of a leading parliamentary committee is to be anything but.

As chairman of the children, schools and families committee, Sheerman is not shy in challenging the perceived wisdom of political leaders. (For example, he had no problem in leading a backbench revolt against Gordon Brown, the leader of his own party, last month.)

The outspoken MP came face-to-face with the great and the good of social care during the committee's latest inquiry.

Concerned and looking for answers as to the parlous state of children's social work training, the chairman was horrified at the collective timidity of the witnesses.

by Bronagh Miskelly

In recent months we have debated how to improve the standing of the profession, reported high vacancy rates, seen the social care workforce strategy and discussed plans such as children's secretary Ed Balls' idea to entice teachers and lawyers into social work. 

  by Daniel Lombard

Community Care's shameless pursuit of the secretary of state continued last night for another photo in support of our Stand Up Now for Social Work campaign.

Last week, feature writer Amy Taylor successfully engineered a photo opportunity with the minister in Manchester thanks to a flurry of messages on Twitter.

This one, however, was much more simple.

The second annual National Social Services Conference in Wales last month coincided with Community Care's special edition on how social care has changed in different UK regions since devolution.

I hopped over the Severn Bridge for the two-day gathering in Cardiff, returning to the city where I spent six years as a student and local newspaper reporter.

I was struck by a number of incidents supporting Community Care's observations around "the distinctive Welsh approach", confirming many of the nation's unique personality traits I had already experienced.