Community Care's CareSpace

Happy Birthday, NHS

Fighting Monsters — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:43:18 GMT

Today is the 60th anniversary of the founding of the National Health Service. There has been a lot of coverage over the last week in every kind of media source to commemorate this. From finding people born on the same day to relive their lives through Read More......(read more)

Direct Payments and CRB checks

The Social Care Experts Blog — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:18:08 GMT

By Simon Heng Users of direct payments are guilty of workforce practices that would be unacceptable within care agencies or local authorities, says the recent Skills for Care study. Nearly half of the interviewees had appointed assistants without a Criminal Read More......(read more)

A Career in Care

Fighting Monsters — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:15:47 GMT

Earlier in the week, as a result of the Care Ambassador scheme that I am a party to, I had a meeting with a someone from Skills for Care who is involved in setting up some of the meetings and training sessions with schools. The Read More......(read more)

An introduction to the cushions and comedy of social care

The Social Work Blog — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:16:56 GMT

by Bronagh Miskelly As the new editor of Community Care I have a steep learning curve ahead of me - especially when it comes to the veritable dictionary of acronyms in social care. Read More......(read more)

Scandinavia: social care Nirvana no more?

The Social Work Blog — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:45:17 GMT

By Keith Sellick Social care writers often portray Scandinavia as some sort of Nirvana (or maybe Asgard or Valhalla). A month doesn't go by without an article appearing that ends with the sentiment: "They do it better in Sweden/Denmark" Read More......(read more)

Hobnobbing & Name Dropping

The Social Care Experts Blog — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:10:21 GMT

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Direct Payments - Chapter Two

Fighting Monsters — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:34:24 GMT

So, a week from the start of my journey into a Direct Payments referral and I have sent the appropriate forms, documents and paperwork to the appropriate people. The figures are being checked and the amount that has been requested matched up against Read More......(read more)

Fair Deal manifesto, skunk and depressing Wednesdays

Mad World — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:16:35 GMT

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has been busy this week. Firstly, it has launched it's new three-year Fair Deal campaign to tackle inequalities in the mental health system. Read More......(read more)

Registration of personal assistants - the great divide

The Social Work Blog — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:23:17 GMT

The General Social Care Council has announced that it will consult on whether personal assistants employed by direct payment recipients in England should be registered . This is a very difficult area with many in the service user movement likely to suggest Read More......(read more)

Trouble at Southern Cross

Fighting Monsters — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:43:48 GMT

Both The Times and The Guardian reported that Southern Cross Healthcare Group have been launched into some kind of financial crisis following the failure to repay a loan of some £46 million. Times are getting harder and a lot of firms are failing - but Read More......(read more)

The freak show is back

The Social Care Experts Blog — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:05:54 GMT

By Simon Stevens Did you see you the programme last week on the man with two heads? Or the woman with three livers? No? If you did it would be very odd as I made them up but I would not be surprised if such programmes were being produced. Read More......(read more)

Henderson hospital, Dinesh Bhugra and acting

Mad World — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:27:24 GMT

Former patients at Henderson Hospital are hoping to get the therapeutic community re-opened as part of a public consultation into its future. Read More......(read more)

Assumptions

Fighting Monsters — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:27:35 GMT

I work in the inner city and have since I did my first practice placement in the first year of my social work course almost 10 years ago now. For as long as I have been working as a social worker , I have only ever worked in the inner city - different Read More......(read more)

Our NHS, our future: mental health perspective on Lord Darzi's review

Mad World — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:17:44 GMT

The government today launched its long awaited NHS review report. I've had a quick look through it to see what it might mean for mental health services. Read More......(read more)

Social Care and NHS Reform: Good practice, bad management and old motorcycles

The Social Care Experts Blog — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:56:05 GMT

by Peter Beresford It's a long way from old British motorbikes to social care and the National Health Service - or is it? This is the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the NHS, the organisation that proved there is an alternative to people only Read More......(read more)

School dinners at heart of child obesity debate

The Social Work Blog — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:34:28 GMT

Two stories, two pages apart caught my eye in last Tuesday's issue of the Daily Telegraph. Read More......(read more)

Looking for beds

Fighting Monsters — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:49:39 GMT

The new president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Professor Dinesh Bhugra, will according to the Guardian use his inaugural speech to lament the problems caused by the shortage of acute psychiatric beds in the system. This is something we hear Read More......(read more)

Legislating for Equality

Fighting Monsters — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:59:32 GMT

Details regarding the new Equality Bill were announced last Thursday. The Bill seems to be an attempt to consolidate existing legislation related to discrimination - a seemingly uncontenious issue - however combined with this are some new proposals which Read More......(read more)

Medicalisation and mental health

Mad World — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 15:01:47 GMT

There's an illuminating piece in the Times today , based on a letter published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, claiming that too many people with a mental illness are being "jollied along" rather than receiving treatment. Read More......(read more)

Is a local government strike wise?

The Social Work Blog — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:19:44 GMT

by Adam McCulloch On Question Time last nigh t (Thursday 26 June) a social worker in the audience attacked the government over local government pay, lambasting ministers' failure to tax the rich more. But I couldn't help thinking that this is Read More......(read more)

Multi-disciplinary working.. or not.

Fighting Monsters — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 03:49:50 GMT

I read in on the Times website that a letter has been written to the British Journal of Psychiatry, in which 36 signatories complain that ‘patients with serious problems are often referred to psychologists and social workers rather than clinicians Read More......(read more)

To strike or not to strike?

The Social Work Blog — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:18:42 GMT

This summer is likely to be a stormy one for Britain's local government sector. Beneath the ballooning cloud of rising fuel, food and utility costs, the scene is set for a long and torrid battle between cash-strapped workers and belt-tightening employers Read More......(read more)

Do social workers have to 'like' their clients?

The Social Care Experts Blog — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:33:16 GMT

By Peter Corser Social workers must hide their emotions in the cause of non-judgemental practice. But they don't have to "like" their clients... Read More......(read more)

Direct Payments - Chapter One

Fighting Monsters — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:10:36 GMT

Direct Payments is the system of, basically, rather than giving a direct service, providing money to the user of the service to ‘buy’ the care that they need directly. ‘Direct Payments were introduced in the UK - for adults with a disability Read More......(read more)

Fat pills that can kill

The Social Work Blog — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:21:52 GMT

by Anabel Unity Sale Fat. The three-letter word that can kill you, now the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has got its way. Read More......(read more)

A Golden Touch

Fighting Monsters — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:27:39 GMT

I like talking to people. One of the things I enjoy most in my job and the area that I work in is that I find that the stories people have to tell about their lives fascinating and a part of getting to know someone, their needs, hopes and aspirations Read More......(read more)

Will Glasvegas make social workers cool at last?

The Social Work Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:04:35 GMT

by Andrew Mickel There's an advert for Community Care's glorious talkboards, Carespace , based on the oft-commented fact that there are no TV show about social workers. This week doesn't see any change in that, but it does see the bizarre Read More......(read more)

Dementia strategy means business

The Social Work Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:24:56 GMT

It's pretty rare for us Community Care journos to praise rather than bury the government in our blogs, but I'm willing to break a habit in the case of the draft dementia strategy published last week . It seemed to exemplify what policymaking should Read More......(read more)

Police autonomy is the way forward for social work

The Social Care Experts Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:17:57 GMT

by Steve Rogowski Under New Labour, there have been longstanding concerns in the public services about the amount of bureaucracy and resulting pre-occupation with paperwork, targets and performance indicators. Teachers, police officers, health and social Read More......(read more)

Stuttering and happiness

Mad World — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:34:13 GMT

There's a great article in the Guardian by Ewan Morrisson about his family's history of stuttering and "fear of words". "Even to this day, the science of stuttering is caught up in the false idea that it is a biological condition Read More......(read more)

Inflation: does it depend on your class?

The Social Work Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:20:26 GMT

By Keith Sellick Yesterday the Daily Telegraph led with "Double blow for middle class families" pointing to rising household bills and the Chancellor's call for pay restraint. It said that inflation for the middle classes was running at Read More......(read more)

Mediaeval trial by ordeal for child protection social workers?

The Social Care Experts Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:33:18 GMT

by Allan Norman "If we don't intervene, we don't know what we might find!" My discussion with the students was taking an interesting turn, as I tried to debate with them a case study of a chaotic and fluid household, in which nonetheless Read More......(read more)

Well done, Tyneside social workers!

The Social Care Experts Blog — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:33:28 GMT

by Allan Norman The short, public judgement in the case of Durham County Council v D & Ors [2008] EWHC 1306 (Fam) (11 June 2008) appears to have been issued for the sole purpose of praising the excellent social workers and other professionals in Tyneside Read More......(read more)

The Death of the Giro

Fighting Monsters — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 03:51:38 GMT

Image via Wikipedia I was minding my own business, listening to Moneybox on the Radio at the weekend - when I heard that Benefits Cheques are to be phased out. The Giro is on its last legs. I don’t want to be pessimistic at all, in the face of the Read More......(read more)

Council bans words

The Social Work Blog — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:31:58 GMT

by Anabel Unity Sale Councils always get a bad rap in the papers. If it's not one thing it's another. This time Tunbridge Wells Council is in the frame for attempting to make sure it uses inclusive language by banning the word 'brainstorming' Read More......(read more)

On feeling trapped

Mad World — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:09:11 GMT

There's a really interesting post on Spo-Reflections about feeling trapped - worth a quick look. Read More......(read more)

The care workers who fail in their duty

The Social Care Experts Blog — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:39:35 GMT

By Simon Heng I'm a service user because I'm physically disabled, paralysed from the neck downwards, the result of a tumour on my spinal cord, 14 years ago. I was one of the first people in my area to try direct payments and I'm one of its Read More......(read more)

Ruby Wax, depression and mobile phone masts

Mad World — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:57:51 GMT

Comedian Ruby Wax is doing an Edinburgh show this year focusing solely on mental health issues. Like many comedians, she has suffered from depression. Read More......(read more)

*The Road Not Taken

Fighting Monsters — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:49:44 GMT

I was asked over the weekend by someone who is just about to finish her Social Work degree and if I would recommend she goes for statutory or voluntary Social Work when she qualifies. I had no hesitation in recommending voluntary sector Read More......(read more)

With or Without Your Consent

Fighting Monsters — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:14:32 GMT

Last week was quite a difficult one for me, work-wise. I’ve already mentioned a couple of the Mental Health Act Assessments I did a few days ago. There was another one yesterday and it was the most troubling I have been party to. At the moment, Read More......(read more)

Baby love

The Social Work Blog — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:19:06 GMT

by Anabel Unity Sale My heart sank when I read that the number of girls aged under 16 having abortions in England and Wales increased by 10% last year. Not because I disagree with abortion, I don't. I am very much pro-choice and believe abortion should Read More......(read more)

IT and me!

Fighting Monsters — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:09:38 GMT

I like to think of myself as somewhat knowledgeable about technology . Not on an advanced level or at the level that would merit any kind of expertise - but basic stuff like checking my email regularly, being able to use database programs and getting Read More......(read more)

On Assessments

Fighting Monsters — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:01:42 GMT

This week I completed two Mental Health Act Assessments (not on my own, of course, I’m still not warranted!). So I probably don’t need to elaborate on the fact that it’s been quite busy. Just a few aspects as I saw them. I spoke to one Read More......(read more)

Depression, diabetes and cannabis

Mad World — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:13:04 GMT

Here's something I didn't know but maybe should have - diabetes and depression are linked, according to research. Read More......(read more)

‘New Media’ and Social Work

Fighting Monsters — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 04:33:04 GMT

One of the main reasons I starting writing this is because I wanted to be reading a blog by a social worker in the UK who was currently practising as a social worker. Doing the kind of things that I was doing. I’m pretty sure I’d have been Read More......(read more)

Bitter pill

The Social Work Blog — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:55:37 GMT

By Derren Hayes The news that scientists in the US have developed a pill that can soothe childhood aches and pains was greeted with predictable scepticism by doctors this side of the pond. Read More......(read more)

Mobile phone madness

Mad World — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:26:25 GMT

I think I'm becoming a campaigner (albeit a rather inactive one) against the general drift towards considering more things mental health problems, especially if they involve kids. Read More......(read more)

Plans and targets: remember the human factor

The Social Care Experts Blog — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:19:44 GMT

Social care needs plans but we should subordinate them to the realities of being human - after all we can't all hit our targets. By Nigel Leaney Read More......(read more)

Self advocacy

Fighting Monsters — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:50:14 GMT

I’m not sure how obvious it has been but there are certain rumblings at work that have been annoying me lately. Mostly behind-the-scenes things about lack of management support and what I see to be some institutionalised ageism and lack of respect Read More......(read more)

Personalisation, practice and opening up the debate

The Social Care Experts Blog — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:35:22 GMT

by Peter Beresford Something rather worrying currently seems to be happening to personalisation. It's unlikely that many social care managers or professionals have managed to avoid this terms in 2008. This hideous piece of jargon has increasingly Read More......(read more)

Child obesity is not child abuse!

The Social Work Blog — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:16:08 GMT

by Adam McCulloch Fellow Community Care blogger Simon Stevens wonders - not entirely seriously - if we'll see the day when you could be arrested for eating a Big Mac or ordering fish and chips . I laughed out loud on reading this but then I noticed Read More......(read more)

Iris Robinson, vitamin D and working your hours

Mad World — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:05:29 GMT

Mind Hacks have done a very good job of rubbishing comments made by the head of Northern Ireland's health committee Iris Robinson MP, that homosexuality was an "abomination" and something that can be treated by psychiatrists. Read More......(read more)

Mad World — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:18:39 GMT

Not managing stress at work

Fighting Monsters — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:04:40 GMT

I wasn’t intending to follow up the post I wrote on Saturday but then, yesterday, I read that Social Workers are buckling under the stress burden according to The Guardian, and the coincidence seemed to be too ripe to pass up. Anushka Astana writes Read More......(read more)

Managing stress at work

Fighting Monsters — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 03:32:45 GMT

I am still constantly learning about coping mechanisms and ways of dealing with stress in the workplace - I would like to think I manage the stresses better now than I used to but its been a slog to get to this point at times. Yesterday morning as I arrived Read More......(read more)

Personalisation: what's it all about?

The Social Work Blog — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 16:59:34 GMT

By Daniel Lombard Social care is "no longer the Cinderella of public services", Ivan Lewis proudly declared in a House of Commons committee room this week. Read More......(read more)

Public sector pay

The Social Work Blog — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:25:25 GMT

By Keith Sellick Unison meets next week for its annual conference as its local government membership ballots for strike action over pay. The councils have offered 2.45%, which has been rejected by the union's national leadership as being in effect Read More......(read more)

An Afternoon with the Magistrate

Fighting Monsters — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:09:20 GMT

I had a referral for a Mental Health Act Assessment earlier in the week and needed to go and get a warrant from the local Magistrate’s Court. Well, when I say, I needed, it was me along with another ASW as I’m not yet approved and she had Read More......(read more)

Reflecting on Bridgend: Tackling suicides amongst young people

The Social Care Experts Blog — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:42:24 GMT

by Sarah Brennan, chief executive, YoungMinds There are a number of reasons why young people may consider taking their own lives. Young people approaching adulthood are at a pivotal stage. They can be more impulsive, and may need more support than they Read More......(read more)

ADHD, depression and drugs

Mad World — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:23:23 GMT

ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, antidepressants and sex. Mad World has it all today. Read More......(read more)

Inside Alzheimer’s

Fighting Monsters — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:49:59 GMT

There is an interesting article published by Geriatrics entitled Does Alzheimer’s really exist?. It consists of an interview with two authors of a book called The Myth of Alzheimer’s. I thought it raised some crucial points. Of course, biologically Read More......(read more)

Stress and drugs and rock n' roll

The Social Care Experts Blog — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:38:04 GMT

One by one the vices that relieved stress for the poor are being denied them. Fags, booze and now food are in the firing line, writes Simon Stevens Read More......(read more)

Post office closures

The Social Work Blog — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:36:05 GMT

By Keith Sellick I was in Somerset at the weekend, enjoying the sun and scenery. I visited the local library and perused the local newspapers. Apart from stories about failing street lamps, Britain in bloom, and car scratching, the main issue was post Read More......(read more)

Fuelling the child poverty debate

The Social Work Blog — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:39:11 GMT

Whether it is tanker drivers going on a national strike, motorcyclists holding a mass rally on the M6 or lorry drivers blocking the roads of central London, those who rely on petrol for their livelihoods certainly know how to get the message across that Read More......(read more)

Mindfulness and St John's Wort

Mad World — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:35:30 GMT

Mindfulness seems an increasingly important topic in mental health. Now, I'm not too sure I really understand the implications of this study , which focuses on the differences between self-esteem and "unconditional self acceptance" but it Read More......(read more)