June 2010 Archives

A family court advisor who left her personal Filofax sitting on a wheelie bin outside a service user's home has been admonished for six months by the General Social Care Council.

The woman admitted to leaving the Filofax, but denied it contained any confidential information about her or any service users. The GSCC's conduct committee accepted this, but noted that she had nonetheless failed to comply with a clear instruction from her manager not to go back and collect the Filofax herself.

It looks increasingly likely that public sector workers will face a sharp rise in their pension contributions following the news that John Hutton, a former Labour Cabinet minister, has been appointed to head an Independent Public Service Pensions Commission.

Unison members at Derby Council have voted for industrial action over the decision to cut their car allowances.

The row has developed after many staff, including social workers, became unhappy at the threat to their expenses.

The Derby Telegraph has reported that 62% of Unison members voted in favour of industrial action while nearly half were in favour of a full strike.

North London coroner's court has confirmed that there will be a pre-inquest review into Peter Connelly's death in July, with a full hearing expected later in the year. According to the Mirror, Peter's family is also pressing local MP Lynne Featherstone, now a junior Home Office minister, for a public inquiry.

Throughout June, Brighton and Hove Council will be answering career questions in CareSpace. All you have to do is follow this link and post your question - a representative from the council will get back to you. Questions so far include:

1. I am a student social worker and will be finishing my degree at end of June 2011. When would be the best time to start applying for a job?

2. What is the difference between a social worker and a senior practitioner?

Last week a practice manager received a three-year admonishment from the GSCC for forwarding offensive or inappropriate e-mails. One of those e-mails, entitled "Anything to declare sir?", is becoming strangely familiar.

The e-mail shows a mocked-up image of Gary Glitter, who has served prison sentences for child sexual abuse and possession of child pornography images, carrying a child in a plastic bag.