Has anyone seen the Birmingham Post? http://www.birminghampost.net/news/newsaggregator/2009/10/07/too-many-children-being-taken-into-care-says-social-services-chief-65233-24870141/
I'm wondering why Colin Tucker doesn't seem to have mentioned that not only was a lack of training the problem amongst Birmingham's social workers but also low morale because of terrible working conditions.
We are hopefully talking to Colin Tucker tomorrow morning about this. Anything else we should be grilling him on??
Judy Cooper
Children's Channel Editor
Community Care
I hope that I am not too late in replying to you.
When was Birmingham last inspected, and was there an action plan they were working through?
Was the Birmingham council social services Srutiny Committee effective in obtaining the information about "weaknesses"
Was anyone addressing the issue of low morale, and were sickness levels an indicator of low morale.
Bham is a difficult area to work- Needs loads of money, they have good procedures.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8291203.stm
an interesting and enlightening piece,
judy: Has anyone seen the Birmingham Post? http://www.birminghampost.net/news/newsaggregator/2009/10/07/too-many-children-being-taken-into-care-says-social-services-chief-65233-24870141/ I'm wondering why Colin Tucker doesn't seem to have mentioned that not only was a lack of training the problem amongst Birmingham's social workers but also low morale because of terrible working conditions. We are hopefully talking to Colin Tucker tomorrow morning about this. Anything else we should be grilling him on?? Judy Cooper Children's Channel Editor Community Care
I was told, at the BASW AGM, in Birmingham, at the beginning of the year that there were 150 social worker vacancies in Birmingham and that scandals to surpass the Baby P affair would be hitting the headlines later in the year.
I looked for a profile of Colin Tucker as am always interested to see what folk have done before and know that he's come from down the road Sandwell but aso found this http://birmingham.gov.uk/ourfuture and thought that it says it all
Poor Brum always forgotten been like that all my life and I'm 54
Two total screwups in Haringey and all the law changes!!
Doesn't anywhere else exist?
It's hard I know ...but you have to try.....go on
And it goes from bad to worse - why? Perhaps because too many Senior managers have either a) been there too long or b) Denial rules the roost:
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/07/22/birmingham-child-services-director-failed-to-get-damning-ofsted-report-toned-down-65233-26912416/
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/07/22/director-of-children-s-social-care-in-birmingham-nearly-quit-over-ofsted-report-65233-26912439/
I still come back to the dangerous state that Sandwell was in (where Colin Tucker was Director) and that he appeared to have little or no idea of just how severe the malaise was - so why move to Birmingham if he is a man with a mission - there was more than enough to sort out in Sandwell. OFSTED were 'hoodwinked' in Sandwell and what do we now see? - Birmingham trying to 'water down' their findings.
Birmingham needs the likes of people who are strong-minded, put children first regardless of 'politics' and ensure that everyone is professionally accountable.
First step - split Birmingham up into at least 4 smaller Authorities - they would still be large but, hopefully, more manageable.
Where did they find those two? I can't believe that someone would tell the press that willingly; let's face it, it's not something to be proud of is it?
If you were to read this......
"Children's social care executive member Cllr Len Clark said the council had already reduced social worker caseloads by a third, transferring child-in-need cases to new family support teams. The council was accelerating the move of social work teams to modern and purpose-built offices and were drawing up blueprints for a longer-term remodelling of children's social care, which is thought will be based on the Hackney model of social work teams." (http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/07/16/114923/Birmingham39s-safeguarding-services-still-inadequate.htm)
.......you might think that Birmingham had some new family support teams, but there aren't any. So no, nobody's caseload has been "reduced by a third" because the truth of the matter is that there is no-one to transfer the cases to.
If anyone from OFSTED wants to come and take an unannounced look around to play hunt the non-existent family support teams please pop in.....
It's all too political and always has been. OFSTED has far more limited powers than most people imagaine - it passes the responsibility on to the local Goverrnment Office (Government of the West Midlands) who then say it is down to Birmingham!!!
Central Government needs to get a real grip on Birmingham (and other clearly failing Authorities (such as Sandwell) and throw out their failing management teams and let somone else have a go - they could hardly do any worse!!!
And even more and worse and worse.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/08/26/115167/850-birmingham-children-in-need-lack-social-workers.htm
Time for resignations and the Government to move in.
I understand that Colin Tucker, Director of Children's Services, has been suspended - does anyone know why?
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2011/01/13/116094/Council-suspends-children39s-services-director.htm
Hope this quote from the Birmingham Post isn't true - as I have said before Failure seems to have its own (rich) rewards.
The Post understands that the council is serving a compromise agreement on Mr Tucker, which will allow him to leave and pursue his career elsewhere without a stain on his character.
This is what I wrote in the "stand up for social work" thread.
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/carespace/forums/social-workers-called-power-crazed-by-9347.aspx
With politicians like that, is it surprising that Birmingham is a basket case? Birmingham must be due for some inspections soon - maybe they need a sacrifice to placate the "Gods" aka Ofsted?
Sadly it probably is it all starts from the top... I worked in B'ham CSC for a couple of years; the bullying managerial culture is to be experienced. It is truly frightening. The nonsense senior and middle management come out with is extraordinary. The managerial bury your head in the sand approach to workers unease, unhappiness and overall dissatisfaction is disgusting. Some of the senior workers and managers pour contempt on social work values and codes of practice viewing service users as scum and their minions as a means to an end or an irritation. It really is a retarded system. An IRO told me don’t stay too long because you will become tainted. Thanks and great advice.
Sadly it probably is it all starts from the top...
I worked in B'ham CSC for a couple of years; the bullying managerial culture is to be experienced. It is truly frightening. The nonsense senior and middle management come out with is extraordinary. The managerial bury your head in the sand approach to workers unease, unhappiness and overall dissatisfaction is disgusting.
Some of the senior workers and managers pour contempt on social work values and codes of practice viewing service users as scum and their minions as a means to an end or an irritation. It really is a retarded system.
An IRO told me don’t stay too long because you will become tainted. Thanks and great advice.
Trouble is, Birminghams not unique.
The 'trouble' is that Birminghma IS unique at being officially poor (actually, just about hopeless) for so many years without effective intervention from central Government - it was always felt to be Labour's 'flagship' but, politics apart, surely the people of Birmingham have deserved far better for far too many years now. When will something be done - or will they just appoint another failed Director - or two!!!.
Rupert you are being pedantic. Of course, everywhere is unique, it's just that as, laterly an agency worker, I have experienced a number of authorities where some of the same comments about Birmingham would apply. Especially about the almost Jeckyl and Hyde transformation, that seems to happen, when people get promoted above team manager level.
Rupert M: The 'trouble' is that Birminghma IS unique at being officially poor (actually, just about hopeless) for so many years without effective intervention from central Government - it was always felt to be Labour's 'flagship' but, politics apart, surely the people of Birmingham have deserved far better for far too many years now. When will something be done - or will they just appoint another failed Director - or two!!!.
CEEFAX is now reporting that Colin Tucker was suspended due to concerns regarding leadership!!! - well, quite simply Birmingham should never have been appointed. His previous Authority, Sandwell, was, and remains, in a very poor state.
You are entirely correct Shirak about what happens to many managers as a result of promotion - money talks at the expense of social work ethics and values all too often it seems.
Rupert M: CEEFAX is now reporting that Colin Tucker was suspended due to concerns regarding leadership!!! - well, quite simply Birmingham should never have been appointed. His previous Authority, Sandwell, was, and remains, in a very poor state. You are entirely correct Shirak about what happens to many managers as a result of promotion - money talks at the expense of social work ethics and values all too often it seems.
It is also somethng about status. Oh I got the job so I can be myself now. I am an expert. Trouble is people get promoted for the wrong reasons. Will they cause trouble? Do they dress right? Do they speak well? I know of one who got a high powered post through the casting couch route.
I've been around so long now that I know quite a few of the senior officers and chief executives from having managed them in an earlier life. Believe me, the ones who go far career wise are not the most talented, or committed, or caring individuals. They are nearly always the ones too insensitive and thick to know they are not good enough to seek promotion as they are already at a level beyong their ability. What's true of bankers is equally true of social work managers. The problem with this last governement is that it thought it could change all that by paying more to top managers. They bought into the yuppie ethic instead of the public service ethic and now we are all paying for it. What depresses me is that it's all wrapped up in such management speak bs. For instance, service cuts are good because they allow people to access mainstream services, which are less stignatising. You know... anyway I have now depressed myself too much to carry on typing!