October 2009 - Fighting Monsters

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A fostering update

I don’t like to patter on about the fostering I do but at the start of a new placement, some of the work-related issues shift onto the back burner temporarily in my thought-process. It also tends to lead to a slightly less regular post schedule to the...

Published 27 Oct 2009 6:56 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social work, work, local authority, london, uk, England, Child, personal, foster child, fostering, Foster care, update
The Court of Protection

There was a curious headline in the Mail on Sunday yesterday. I was not curious enough to buy the paper but curious enough to investigate on the Mail website. Apparently, according to the journalist, Secret court seizes £3.2bn from elderly… and...

Published 26 Oct 2009 6:40 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, older people, dementia, work, mental health, MCA, mental capacity, local authority, old age, politics, elderly, long-term care, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Court of Protection, power of attorney, daily mail spouting nonsense, archway tower, lasting power of attorney, enduring power of attorney
Saving DLA

It looks like Andy Burnham, the Secretary of State for Health, has ruled out any use of DLA (Disability Living Allowance) to fund a ‘national care service’. DLA is one of the few non-means tested benefits that is provided to people aged under 65 who have...

Published 23 Oct 2009 6:40 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, older people, work, old age, benefits, politics, uk, health, Age Discrimination, personal, attendance allowance, saving dla, andy burnham, Disability Living Allowance
Personal Budgets – Some thoughts

I attended some training on Personal Budgets a while ago. It was fairly comprehensive training that was surprisingly well-presented (it isn’t that I don’t always expect good training but sometimes it can be something of a curate’s egg.. ). It leaves me...

Published 21 Oct 2009 5:44 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, older people, work, socialcare, mental health, local authority, old age, politics, elderly, uk, health, direct payments, adult care, Disability, adult social care, personal, government policy, personal budget, individual budgets, putting people first, well-being and choice, resource allocation system, independence, personal budgets, ras
Taking Back our Profession

On 12th November, BASW (British Association of Social Workers) is holding a rally starting at 10am at Friends House at Euston in London to support social workers and the social work profession. The rally is titled ‘Taking Back our Profession : Time to...

Published 19 Oct 2009 6:28 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, work, london, social workers, British Association of Social Workers, basw, moira gibb, Tim Loughton, british social workers, meeting, basw rally
Looking forward to retirement?

Yesterday, I was at a meeting with a few of my more senior colleagues, and I mean that in terms of age. A couple of them were joking together about looking forward to early retirement. Although I’m at least (depending on government policy!) a comfortable...

Published 15 Oct 2009 6:21 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social issues, older people, work, mental health, old age, elderly, health, elders, retirement, unhealthy retirement, working in retirement, health in retirement
Benefits

Yesterday I visited G, a woman with anxiety and depression. . She had been very well for a good few months but of late, I’ve stepped up my visits a little as I can sense a downturn in her mental state. She is beginning to feel very low in mood. We talked...

Published 14 Oct 2009 6:01 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social issues, older people, work, mental health, discrimination, old age, benefits, politics, elderly, dwp, personal, department of work and pensions, benefit fraud, attendance allowance
At Court

One of the duties of my role is to make applications at the local magistrate’s court for warrants when they are necessary. A warrant is only necessary in the course of a Mental Health Act Assessment if we need to gain access to a property where we would...

Published 13 Oct 2009 6:52 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social work, work, ASW, mental health, court, personal, AMHP, magistrate's court, warrant, in court
World Mental Health Day 2009

Today is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is ‘Mental Health in Primary Care’. I think the idea is to think about integrating mental health care with physical health care and needs and to think about some of the marginalising attitudes which...

Published 10 Oct 2009 11:03 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: work, mental health, World Mental Health Day, world health organisation, huffington post
In other news

A foster child arrived in our care late last night as an emergency placement. I may be quieter than usual over the next few days as she settles in. Especially as she has a fondness for computers.. Read More...

Published 9 Oct 2009 7:26 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: work, personal, fostering
Get Moving Week!

This week, in the run up to World Mental Health Day on 10th October, Time to Change are running (pun intended) a ‘Get Moving’ Week, to focus attention on the need for physical activity to promote better mental wellbeing. As they say on their website From...

Published 8 Oct 2009 7:20 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social issues, work, mental health, health, rethink, World Mental Health Day, Mind, Time to Change, festival, dance, get moving and dance, get moving week, regents park, mental health stigma
Deirdre Sanders, the GSCC Conference and the Social Work Taskforce

I’ve written before about the invitation made by the GSCC (General Social Care Council – the regulatory authority for Social Workers and Social Care Workers) to invite speak at their conference. Ed chatting with Deirdre Deirdre Sanders is employed by...

Published 7 Oct 2009 7:04 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, local authority, politics, health, social services, local government, gscc., personal, General Social Care Council, Ed Balls, agony aunt, social work taskforce, deirdre sanders, british social work, gscc conference, general social care council conference
Medication and Care Homes

Today, the BBC is reporting on a research study from the University of London which finds that seven out of ten residents out of the 256 residents in 55 different care homes were subject to errors in their medication regime. The summary of the report...

Published 6 Oct 2009 6:49 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: residential care, social care, social work, social issues, older people, work, medication, discrimination, local authority, old age, politics, elderly, long-term care, uk, health, local government, BBC, personal, medication management in residential care, nursing care and medication
Tories’ Insurance Plan

I like to follow the news and so, yesterday, when I heard about the plan proposed by the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne to allow those approaching 65 to purchase a type of insurance policy for roughly £8000 to cover future cost of nursing or residential...

Published 5 Oct 2009 7:03 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: residential care, social care, social work, social issues, older people, work, nursing care, local authority, old age, politics, elderly, long-term care, uk, social services, United Kingdom, local government, England, personal, election, Conservatives, Green Paper, conservative social care policy, insurance residential care, george osborne, funding adult care, conservative insurance scheme, tories
Reflections on the week

I can’t say I’m sad to see the back of the week. It’s been one of the busiest ones I can remember for a while. The strange thing is that I can remember a few ‘landmark’ busy weeks and each time I do, something else comes along and sweeps me further from...

Published 3 Oct 2009 6:42 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, work, mental health, local authority, uk, health, personal, office, busy, what i did this week, what i learnt this week, reflection on work, work week
Capacity to die

This story from the Telegraph today gave me food for thought. Kerrie Wooltorton, age 26, had a history of depression and decided that she wanted to die. She, according to the story, drank poison and then called an ambulance. She had written a note to...

Published 1 Oct 2009 7:32 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social work, social issues, work, mental health, MCA, suicide, depression, mental capacity act, personal, right to die, Best Interests Assessor, consent to treatment, kerrie wooltorton, gmc, wooltorton, advanced directive, living will

October 2009 - Fighting Monsters

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives

A fostering update

The Court of Protection

Saving DLA

Personal Budgets – Some thoughts

Taking Back our Profession

Looking forward to retirement?

Benefits

At Court

World Mental Health Day 2009

In other news

Get Moving Week!

Deirdre Sanders, the GSCC Conference and the Social Work Taskforce

Medication and Care Homes

Tories’ Insurance Plan

Reflections on the week

Capacity to die