The big spending review will take place this Wednesday with cuts expected to most government departments and public services. There will be lots of coverage on communitycare.co.uk of all the implications for social care and we'd be really interested to hear your thoughts here on CareSpace.
We'll be setting up a special spending review page, which will bring together all the news and reactions. I'll post the url here as soon as it goes live.
CareSpace support
I think that will be really helpful. I was going to take some time off on Wednesday to have a look at what the implications would be, but then decided that everyone and their dog would do that for me so I need not worry.
I am glad the Spending Review is finally just about here. It means that Councils can actually predict how their budgets are going to be affected and make some plans for future spending based on facts, as opposed to the current knee jerk reactions from councils who have already set the wheals in motion to slash and burn.
I am also pleased about the spending review arriving as it will either add or not add substance to many managers "RANTINGS" that all our jobs are at risk. Complete rubbish and as far as I can tell, a tool being employed to drive through changes that have previously been unpopular, or to just scare staff into doing more for less. This later point will only extend the gap between current working practices and what we hope to achieve from a common social work contract, so we must stand firm on this.
I have a feeling, which I think will go something like this, as we can see that some councils have capitalised on the scare mongering, the actual reality of the spending cuts will not actually be as harsh and deep as has been predicted. We will end up being a leaner service with less resources, but more will be able to be saved than expected. Its one of those scenarios where the threat is that 20% will lose their jobs, but only 10% will actually be affected, therefore we are all eternally grateful that its not been as bad as predicted. Some might call that politics.
I would also extremely surprised if any qualified SW posts in any children's services were made redundant. Adults services seem to be at risk, but I guess the political hope might be that Adult SW's go over to children SW work and plug the short term gaps. That is until we have much fewer students coming through as more people cannot afford to go to University and Local Authorities view training budgets to enable staff to become qualified, as something of a luxury.
Through various ways and means, not necessarily intentional, I'm actually off work on Wednesday so have a lovely afternoon of TV watching to look forward to..
Apparently according to some reports some of the budgets for social care (adults) is going to be protected and I am inclined to agree with Bulldog Alan that I actually think we've been prepared for a harder blow than we might be going to take and the cuts have moved beyond the necessary to the politically expedient. Look at what happened with the defence review.. we were built up for savage cuts, a few choice leaks and an announcement that Cameron 'saved' the defence budgets by actually cutting a lot less than what was originally leaked. I think that's a case in point for what will happen on Wednesday. We'll end up feeling grateful because we'd been prepared for worse...
As for staffing, we haven't been able to recruit into vacant posts for a while.
Oh well, I'll try not to be too gloomy. Suffice to say I'm very glad I did my ASW training in the day as it makes me just that bit more difficult to get rid of.
Our Comprehensive Spending Review page is now live. We'll be having a live update and chat feature on it so please feel free to get involved by sharing any opinions or news you've picked up. Alternatively, you can of course continue to discuss things here on CareSpace.
It appears social care will get an extra £2bn over the next four years to protect it to some extent against local government cuts.
But two of our commentators are not impressed. Peter Beresford argues that the CSR hits the poor and Steve Rogowski says it is fundamentally unfair.
simeon2: The big spending review will take place this Wednesday with cuts expected to most government departments and public services. There will be lots of coverage on communitycare.co.uk of all the implications for social care and we'd be really interested to hear your thoughts here on CareSpace. We'll be setting up a special spending review page, which will bring together all the news and reactions. I'll post the url here as soon as it goes live.
I
I know this picture is stark, but that is how us the disabled feel. I painted it specifically to show of our fears of life to come.
I am one of that group who is being effected badly by these cuts. I am nearly 58, have worked all my life until this last few years and am terrified about what is happening. Like many, I may loose my social care help, and soon will have little money on benefits to do anything other than stay at home just trying to just cope.with life. I havnt yet been through the so called medical tests to put me on ESA, but they terrify me too. Being that target figures at getting people off incapacity benefit are so high, it makes me wonder how many of us will be unfairly judged as 'fit to work'. The horror stories of disabled people being put on reduced benefit are mounting in numbers, whilst the companies doing these tests can bask in the mounting profits raised. What is the matter with helping the vulnerable? Why has vulnerability become such a bad thing? Disabled are not to blame for this but we are taking the punches.
Any idea what this will mean for newly qualified Social Workers?? I am due to qualify in February and Im really worried I might not be able to find a job!
I fear Social Workers are facing a triple whammy. 1. Cuts in posts and job freezes (particularly in adult services where we have been elbowed out by care management model and, perversely, by personalisation already). 2. Cuts affecting our nearest and dearest especially if any of them work in the public sector. 3. Effects of welfare cuts on our service users, many of whom are poor and disabled. Pressures on them will increase and Government propaganda has depicted them as scroungers and malingerers so they will have no-one to stand up for them.
I urge SWs to be prepared to present a clear picture of why they are essential workers fulfilling an essential role (some of those making decisions about redundancies have no idea what we do and how we work in adult safeguarding for eg), and to look seriously at the advocacy element of our role in seeking to ensure service users are not treated unjustly and are able to speak up for themselves (in some areas not a part of the job we are encouraged to engage with).
In a time of recession and austerity more social workers are needed not fewer.
I think the previous correspondent may have some difficulty finding a post as an NQSW in adult services. Many local authorities still pursue the mythical experienced SW who can plunge into the heaviest elements of the job without turning a hair. In applications and interviews, stress your experience prioir to the degree and while on the degree and your willingness to learn. Make sure at Uni that you get appropriate placements with some element of social work in them and where you are supervised (on placement or remotely) by a qualified SW - ideally one placement in a local authority or place where there is some statutory element. Do your homework thoroughly when applying for a post - where the advert offers you a chance to speak to a team manager or similar, do this. Good luck!
That picture is amazing - and so true, sadly. Where did it come from? I'd like to use it on my blog.
You're absolutely right about us being used as punchbags for the folly and stupidity of others - bankers/w****** and politicians.
Cheers,
H
flower68: That picture is amazing - and so true, sadly. Where did it come from? I'd like to use it on my blog. You're absolutely right about us being used as punchbags for the folly and stupidity of others - bankers/w****** and politicians. Cheers, H
Regards
Diana Harrison
Diana, you are VERY talented. I will use it and of course credit you - you deserve it.
Flower x
Thanks hope it helps the cause. x