December 2010 - Fighting Monsters

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Looking ahead to 2011

I’m almost reluctant to write up my thoughts for the coming year and it is a battle to contain my more pessimistic urges. I wrote this post and sat on it for a while because it came across as too … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 31 Dec 2010 5:46 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social work, work, politics, local government, approved mental health professional, personal, British Association of Social Workers, AMHP, big society
2010 – A look back

It’s been one hell of a year and I can’t say I’m terribly sad to see the end of it but my gut feeling is that, however hard I try to be positive, I can’t cover myself in pure optimism … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 29 Dec 2010 6:13 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, socialcare, mental health, local authority, politics, personal, British Association of Social Workers, personal budget
Christmas Break

I’m taking a few days off over the Christmas period. I hope that everyone that happens across this site has a happy and enjoyable time over the festive period. Thanks for dropping by! I’ll be back at some point next … Continue reading →...

Published 23 Dec 2010 5:46 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: work, Christmas
Christmas and Depression

It’s distinctly emptier in our office this week. I don’t think it’s necessarily the snow – although that hasn’t helped with some of the time-keeping – it’s just a very popular time for annual leave. Next week will be similarly … Continue reading...

Published 22 Dec 2010 5:27 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, older people, work, mental health, local authority, old age, elderly, health, depression, personal, Religion and Spirituality, Holidays, Christmas, Christianity, depression at christmas, Opinions, Religious
Alternate Christmas Carol

I picked a really good weekend to nip away for a few days! I’m back now though but brain still creaking into gear. I was sent a link to this alternate Twelve Days of Christmas As explained in ‘Broken of … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 21 Dec 2010 7:02 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social issues, work, discrimination, politics, health, Disability, Christmas, Christmas and holiday season, Twelve Days of Christmas
Where the cuts fall..

The copy of The Guardian sitting on my desk at work yesterday didn’t exactly bring a vast amount of cheer to the increasingly chilly office with the headline reading that 100,000 jobs are to be lost in the public … Continue reading →...

Published 17 Dec 2010 6:25 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, local authority, politics, health, local government, Employment, personal, London borough
Why the ILF went..

There’s a post on Community Care’s ‘The Big Picture’ blog which explains some of the reasons behind the decision to scrap the ILF (Independent Living Fund). It is written by Melanie Henwood and Professor Bob Hudson who were commissioned (they …...

Published 15 Dec 2010 6:28 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, local authority, benefits, politics, direct payments, personal, personal budget
The Death of the Independent Living Fund

Yesterday was quite a day for adult social services. As well as the more obvious announcements of the cuts to local authorities and the unveiling of a so-called ‘Localism Bill’, Maria Miller, the minister for disabled people announced that the …...

Published 14 Dec 2010 6:18 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, MCA, discrimination, local authority, politics, long-term care, uk, direct payments, personalisation, local government, Disability, personal, Independent living, personal budget, ilf, independent living fund, disability discrimination, Spending Review (United Kingdom), Alf Morris, abolition of independent living fund, cutting ilf, lord morris, Maria Miller, Quality of life
The Complainant

It was never going to be a visit I was looking forward to. While our manager no longer sidles up to us and drops a physical paper file on our desks by way of allocation, she now sends emails with … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 13 Dec 2010 7:26 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, older people, dementia, work, carers, mental health, local authority, old age, elderly, health, carer, local government, Complaint, approved mental health professional, personal, AMHP
St Michael’s Manor/Mount – Woolton

I wonder how bad a care home has to be to have definitive action taken against it. I came across this story in the Liverpool Echo referring to St Michael’s Manor Nursing Home in Woolton, near Liverpool. The home received … Continue reading →...

Published 10 Dec 2010 5:43 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, older people, work, old age, elderly, long-term care, nursing home, personal, Care Quality Commission, Food safety, Inspector, james mutch, Liverpool Echo, Mary Potter, st michael's manor nursing home, st michael's mount nursing home, Woolton
Tuition Fees

I’m going vaguely off-topic today but I want to write about the vote to raise tuition fees at English Universities today and why I feel so strongly about it. I have an undergraduate degree and a postgraduate degree. I have … Continue reading →...

Published 9 Dec 2010 6:08 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social issues, politics, Education, personal, higher education, students, Nick Clegg, raising tuition fees, Student loan, student politics, Tuition
From DLA to PiP – a consultation begins

Yesterday, the government published it’s consultation document regarding proposed changes to Disability Living Allowance (to be renamed Personal Independence Payment.. ). At Arbitrary Constant there is a fantastic rundown of the details of the document...

Published 7 Dec 2010 5:55 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social issues, work, mental health, benefits, politics, elderly, Disability, personal, Welfare, Disability Living Allowance, esa, Employment and Support Allowance, Means test, personal independence payment, pip
Pondering Big Society

I doubt I’m the only person to be a little baffled by the concept of the ‘big society’. Having spent a considerable amount of time both as a volunteer and then working for a voluntary organisation I have and do … Continue reading → Read More...

Published 3 Dec 2010 6:39 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, social issues, work, local authority, politics, local government, personal, Conservatives, big society, Volunteering, building big society, Community organizing, Loughton
Eligibility

I have been subject to a complaint which was raised to the local MP. This is not particularly unusual after a period of time working in social services. We are quite used to councillors’ letters and MPs’ letters.. once we … Continue reading →...

Published 2 Dec 2010 6:09 AM by Fighting Monsters

Filed under: social care, social work, older people, work, mental health, local authority, old age, politics, health, local government, Department of Health, personal, fair access to care services, personal budget, facs, Birmingham City Council

December 2010 - Fighting Monsters

Syndication

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives

Looking ahead to 2011

2010 – A look back

Christmas Break

Christmas and Depression

Alternate Christmas Carol

Where the cuts fall..

Why the ILF went..

The Death of the Independent Living Fund

The Complainant

St Michael’s Manor/Mount – Woolton

Tuition Fees

From DLA to PiP – a consultation begins

Pondering Big Society

Eligibility