I don't often have guest posts on Mad World but this one struck me as unusual enough to warrant making an exception.

We ran a story last week about Cardigan, the UK's first social work dog. As something of a joke we added his name to our poll asking readers who they would like to see as England's first chief social worker. Perhaps spurred on by the handsome lead he currently holds in the poll, Cardigan has decided to email me his "manifesto" for transforming social work, if one can dignify it with such a name, and what purports to be a photograph of him - I'll let you judge it for yourselves...

My manifesto for social work change

I may be new to social work but it hasn't taken me long to sniff out where it's going wrong and how it could be improved. Here is my six point plan:

• Let's cut the paperwork. It takes up too much time and is difficult for social workers like me who can't actually hold a pen or type on a keyboard.
• Biscuits for all. I would prefer dog biscuits but you can have human biscuits if you must, although I do think you'd like dog biscuits if you gave them a try.
• Every social work team should have a dog. I've already had a big impact here in Upmead in managing conflict and building positive relationships with service users and that's something that could be replicated across the country.
• We must cut the long hours culture. Offices should close at 5pm to give us enough time in investigate every single interesting smell on the way to the park.
• NO meeting should last for more than an hour. I start getting restless and chewing the furniture after that.
• More pay. We do a tough job and should be able to afford premium brand tinned meat every now and again.

Can we make things better? Yes we can - together we can build a better social work future! Woof!
PS - You can contact me via Twitter @CardiganTheDog

Read the complete post at http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/mental-health/2011/04/cardigan-the-social-work-dog-m.html