The Social Work Blog

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• Crime is down, brilliant news. Well done, everybody

  by Adam McCulloch The reduction in crime in the UK is fantastic news and reflects well on the government, police, social workers, probation officers and, yes, car manufacturers (the days of the 'pooled' Ford Fiesta are well and truly in the past... Posted Jul 18 2008, 01:10 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Media, Politics, government, Adam McCulloch, violence, Criminal justice, crime, ford fiesta, crime figures, Cycling

• On the march with London local government strikers

  by Keith Hassell I was not at work yesterday. Instead I got together with thousands of others who were not at work either. But whereas I was on a day off from my desk at Community Care they were on strike. Read More... Posted Jul 17 2008, 01:13 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, workforce, local authorities, pay, local government, strikes, pay dispute, Keith Hassell, Unison

• All political fun and games for children's services

  by Bronagh Miskelly The collaboration between the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Schools and Families to improve children's services has given rise to a new great double act in the traditions of British comedy it seems. Read... Posted Jul 17 2008, 12:11 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, children and young people, education, children, funding, health, Bronagh Miskelly

• "Chav" warnings take us back to 2004

  By Andrew Mickel News update: the Hutton Report is published; George Bush is re-elected president of the US; and prime minister Blair is hit by a condom of purple flour in Parliament. Read More... Posted Jul 15 2008, 01:22 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, Andrew Mickel, fabian society, chav

• Woolly thinking leaves council services at mercy of vocal minority

  by Bronagh Miskelly It was with a muted fanfare that communities secretary Hazel Blears launched the white paper on community empowerment - Communities in control: Real people, real power . But then petitions and housing associations probably aren't... Posted Jul 10 2008, 12:31 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, children's services, children and young people, local authorities, Bronagh Miskelly, service planning, communities, children in care, accountability, local politics

• Ray Lewis: any regrets?

  by Adam McCulloch Ray Lewis had to go, didn't he? The deputy London mayor for youth turned out to have had a chequered history in the Church of England, resulting in him being barred from any further posts in that institution. But his resignation... Posted Jul 09 2008, 04:17 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Media, Politics, Youth justice, Adam McCulloch, ethnic minorities, london mayor, youth crime, eastside young leaders, knife crime, ray lewis

• An introduction to the cushions and comedy of social care

  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... Posted Jul 03 2008, 01:16 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, dcsf, social care, Bronagh Miskelly, DH, acronyms

• Scandinavia: social care Nirvana no more?

  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"... Posted Jul 03 2008, 11:45 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: keith sellick, Politics, social care, welfare cuts, Sweden, Denamrk, pedagogues

• Inflation: does it depend on your class?

  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... Posted Jun 24 2008, 12:20 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: keith sellick, Politics, strike, public sector pay, inflation

• Fuelling the child poverty debate

  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... Posted Jun 11 2008, 12:39 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, children and young people, Benefits, voluntary sector, child poverty, education, funding, unemployment, isolation, social exclusion, deprevation, poor

• Child poverty up. And pensioner poverty too

  by Mithran Samuel So child poverty has risen again. And pensioner poverty as well . To put it in context, the figures on household incomes published today relate to 2006-7 since when the government has announced tax and benefit changes in successive Budgets... Posted Jun 10 2008, 11:21 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, Mithran Samuel, child poverty, Labour, pensioner poverty, national insurance

• Michael Heseltine's drug's strategy: hit the Chelsea party set!

  by Adam McCulloch On last night's Question Time (BBC1) Michael Heseltine, in answer to a question on the government's cannabis u-turn, put the surprising view that any successful drugs strategy should “start at the top”. He singled out the “Chelsea... Posted May 09 2008, 11:11 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Media, Politics, Adam McCulloch, drugs, television programme, Piers Morgan, michael heseltine, Rachel Johnson, BBC1, Question Time, Menzies Campbell, Addiction

• Famine stalks the world

  By Keith Sellick A story in the Financial Times about social workers in the Philippines handing out cheap rice shows how the global explosion of food and energy prices are impacting on the poor; and those who work with them. Read More... Posted May 08 2008, 12:40 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics

• Tears of a Clown

  By Andrew Mickel So the once-Iron Chancellor has a heart, according to care services minister Ivan Lewis, who is claiming that Gordon Brown cried after reading testimonies from children with learning disabilities. Read More... Posted May 02 2008, 11:11 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics

• Mayday: time to defeat Boris Johnson

  By Keith Sellick Mayday: a workers' celebration. Some very fine articles here on the history and meaning of 1 May. Read More... Posted May 01 2008, 11:27 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: keith sellick, Politics, boris johnson, May Day, Mayday, Internationale

• Boris banks on City help

  London Mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has unveiled his team for tackling the Capital's social ills should he be elected. If you're expecting a list of the great and good in social enterprise then think again. Read More... Posted Apr 23 2008, 06:19 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, boris johnson, london mayor, derren hayes

• 1968: Enoch Powell wasn’t right, he was a racist

  By Keith Sellick Forty years ago Enoch Powell made his “rivers of blood” speech. In the past six months, I have watched a BBC documentary where the narrator said that while Powell’s language was regrettable he was right. I have listened to a BBC radio... Posted Apr 23 2008, 03:50 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, racism, Aeneas, Eric Clapton, Enoch Powell, 1968

• Ed Balls and Jack Straw show they care

  by Adam McCulloch Who says the government doesn’t feel passionate about social care issues? Apparently justice secretary Jack Straw recently threatened to punch education secretary Ed Balls after being spoken to rudely during a discussion about youth... Posted Apr 09 2008, 03:58 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, Youth justice, Adam McCulloch, YJB, baroness ashton, ed balls, frances done, jack straw, baroness scotland

• Immigration: House of Lords inflames the arms race!

  by Adam McCulloch Pass the immigration ammunition! The House of Lords economic affairs committee has distributed an arms dump-worth of arguments to all comers. The Daily Mail is crowing, UKIP salivating and Migration Watch throwing street parties in Tunbridge... Posted Apr 02 2008, 01:16 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, Adam McCulloch, immigration, house of lords, economic impact of immigration

• Care Service Minister Ivan Lewis in tax the rich shock

  By Keith Sellick "Fairness means a Labour government not remaining silent when any company rips the consumer off or directors of poorly performing organisations in the public or private sector receive extortionate bonuses," says Ivan Lewis in... Posted Apr 01 2008, 01:55 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: keith sellick, Politics, ivan lewis, tax the rich, New Labour

• Care services minister Ivan Lewis in tax the rich shock

  By Keith Sellick "Fairness means a Labour government not remaining silent when any company rips the consumer off or directors of poorly performing organisations in the public or private sector receive extortionate bonuses," says Ivan Lewis in... Posted Apr 01 2008, 01:55 PM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: keith sellick, Politics, ivan lewis, tax the rich, New Labour

• Free newspapers have changed the political landscape of London

  by Simeon Brody It seems that Conservative Boris Johnson is 11 points clear of his Labour rival Ken Livingstone in the race to become London Mayor. Read More... Posted Mar 19 2008, 09:45 AM by The Social Work Blog Filed under: Politics, boris johnson, london newspapers, simeon brody, ken livingstone