Look's like the Big Society Shadow is taking shape and troubled families aka 'problem' families are to be allocated social workers to pop round and help the family holistically to get them out of the mire.
"social workers to visit the worst troublemakers"
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/problem-families-to-get-life-advice-6277142.html
I was alarmed at reading your headline....still waiting for the knock on the door!!!
Excellent idea - hope their cars have an appropriate srticker on the outside - e.g. 'Hooligan Task Force' or similar!!!
Curious how the family workers gets called a 'trouble shooter' and a 'troubled family' gets called a 'problem family'.
Does antone think that this work could be said to be a form of generic social work?
Can one person really resolve the complex needs of these families?
What happens if the family decices they do not want the help of a 'trouble shooter'?
This type of intervention seems to flow from the like of the Orwellian Total Person concept being hawked to and promoted by the families best friend Eric Pickles.
Do you think it is possible to get a 32 times payback in terms of cost (see Total Person info graphic below), in the first year of a 'trouble shooter' working with a family?
Erm hang on a minute is this level of intervention already in place aka as early intervention.
The think family agenda which I believe started in 2008, family intervention programmes working with families who do not quite meet stat threshold but are deemed as costing the state/their local communities thousands of pounds each final year, I was recently offered a job doing this exact work for a london borough
So what the heck is our so called government talking about.
We used to have Family Service Units in the 70's and early 80's...but they were proper social work interventions...these new proposals cannot be construed as social work under any definition. However that's not going to stop Wilfred Pickles and his crowd.....My understanding is that these new initiatives employ coercive practices..so the rise of social workers in jackboots is imminent.
Boxerdog: .....My understanding is that these new initiatives employ coercive practices..so the rise of social workers in jackboots is imminent.
.....My understanding is that these new initiatives employ coercive practices..so the rise of social workers in jackboots is imminent.
Yes, they are very much a rusty iron first in a moth eaten wollen glove. They are just a re-jackboot of Family Intervention Teams. They are likely to be big-stick interventions based on sanctions such as Eviction, non compliance leading to imprisonment/tagging. Fines for children not in school etc.
I take the view that this is just a scheme to dress up caseworkers as a form of Police without the uniform and critically the whole thing functions on the assumption that the caseworker will have live access to personal data on all family members, from the likes of Police, DWP, Health services, Housig department, Schools etc In a sense it will use some think akin to the intelligence led Intensive Supervision and Surveillance model approach to persistent offenders.
All of this presume families will freely consent to the personal data held on them by a reported 28 Public authorities to be shared...will 'help' be conditional upon agreeing to have personal data shared..even if such can only be voluntary?
Some joined up thinkingGovernment rejects Munro early intervention dutyhttp://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/15/12/2011/117888/Government-rejects-Munro-early-intervention-duty.htmQ: What do troubleshooters do that social workers don't?A: Primarily function of the basis of coercion or have live access to personal data covering all the families engagement with statutory local and central government services and of course the role is non statutory. And they don't cost as much....
I did some research on family intervention projects a couple of years back - I agree with Rag1 that what the govt, is proposing sounds almost identical to what is already provided by FIPs. I guess they're wanting to trumpet it as a new scheme so they aren't seen to agree with what Labour already did - in this sense, it seems a total waste of time and money considering it's already out there. Boxerdog - FIPs were sold in policy docs and publicity as highly coercive and 'getting tough' on 'torublesome' families too. But the majority of research into their use suggests in practice they have been very different, and families have valued the intensive level of support provided, and having someone work alongside them consistently.
AND they're wheeling out the awful Louise Casey...be very afraid!
Here's an excellent viewpoint, pulling together a number of issues
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/hilton-dawson-rsw/problem-families-david-cameron_b_1150706.html
"When the front door opens and the worker goes in, they will see the family as a whole and get a plan of action together, agreed with the family. This will often be basic, practical things that are the building blocks of an orderly home and a responsible life"
Just make sure that you answer the door. and the rest looks pretty straightforward as far as I can see. Why didn't anyone think of this before ? Genius !
JoSoPhine: Look's like the Big Society Shadow is taking shape and troubled families aka 'problem' families are to be allocated social workers to pop round and help the family holistically to get them out of the mire. "social workers to visit the worst troublemakers" http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/problem-families-to-get-life-advice-6277142.html
People at the top have it good. People at the bottom don't.
Whose benefit is this task force for?
It is about getting people to accept their lot.
My bet is the product of the tree will be more evident than that of the vegetable patch.
It's easy to get annoyed by this govts nonense but I wonder what it means in practice -
are they looking to take people out of the child protection route?
does it mean the end of statutory social work?
This may be no bad thing, unless it means a devaluing of welfare roles and turning it into a low paid unskilled profession - which may be what they're after.
Why not just give the job to the Police? Zero tolerance will sort them all out!!!
It really is a horibly patronising approach to show "problem" families the error of their ways as if the problems can be resolved by a good talking to ignoring all the massive structural inequalities that exist and when unemployment is going to push another generation into crisis. What a load of bollocks.
Be careful what you say Rupert - if Eric Pickles or Louise Casey read this forum (unlikely I know) they would see this as a serious proposition.
Julian: It really is a horibly patronising approach to show "problem" families the error of their ways as if the problems can be resolved by a good talking to ignoring all the massive structural inequalities that exist and when unemployment is going to push another generation into crisis. What a load of bollocks.
On-the-spot fines are the answer followed by imprisonment - time to stop messing around. Get them to watch The Young Apprentice and see that the sky's the limit!!!
Sorry I thought that the swear filter would deal with that. - anyway is it really a swear word any more ? It has become an important part of my vocabulary and beautiffuly encapsulates what I think about so much of what is said in one short word.
Why limit yourself to the sky - there is a whole universe out there. You have to think big Rupert!
Julian: Sorry I thought that the swear filter would deal with that. - anyway is it really a swear word any more ? It has become an important part of my vocabulary and beautiffuly encapsulates what I think about so much of what is said in one short word.
But, I'm a layyyydeee.
"Bollocks" /ˈbɒləks/ is a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "testicles". The word is often used figuratively in British English and Hiberno-English, as a noun to mean "nonsense", an expletive following a minor accident or misfortune, or an adjective to mean "poor quality" or "useless". Similarly, the common phrases "Bollocks to this!" or "That's a load of old bollocks" generally indicate contempt for a certain task, subject or opinion. Conversely, the word also figures in idiomatic phrases such as "the dog's bollocks", "top ***(s)", or more simply "the bollocks" (as opposed to just "bollocks"), which will refer to something which is admired, approved of or well-respected.
So you have to be careful in which sense you are using it 'redana'!!!!
Lets just mix a few fines here and there, the odd eviction, a little zero tolerance on social malaise and social work will be able to return to it's eugenic antecedents.
Can i just clarify that when I use the word it is certainly not in the context of the appendiges of our canine friends.
Redana
I can only apologise for my insensitivity on this matter. A lady should never be exposed to such language as it could easily upset their delicate constitutions.
Now that really is a load of ........ nonsense or to put it another way BOLLOCKS.
What was that about a dogs appendages???
Julian: Redana I can only apologise for my insensitivity on this matter. A lady should never be exposed to such language as it could easily upset their delicate constitutions. Now that really is a load of ........ nonsense or to put it another way BOLLOCKS.
Refraining from swearing comes in the same category as the words coloured and lady.
There are loads more, like "The better half" and "My good woman" (Referring to a possession)
So there are proactive and passive terms, swearing is passive, when used as an emphasis.
A lot of the rhetoric of the pro filter people suggests they are campaigning against swearing at others, I don't think this happens on here.
Apology accepted Julian.
When I read it I had one of my funny turns and needed to be brought round by smelling salts. I have only just recovered. ....I only know about puppies and kittens and ponies, so this was a bit of a shock. Social workers should never be exposed to foul language.
Hello I've just had a knock on the door...woman there I've never met before...she demands entry in my house and in true Rab C. Nesbitt fashion takes 20 minutes to tell me I'm scum...and my family are scum...and worse....my dog is scum.....then she asks me how I feel about it....most confusing
Are you and your family now cured from your life of drudgery, misery and poverty ?
Sounds pretty positive so far - a new sort of Talking (down to you) therapy. Remember acceptance of your previously feckless existence is the important first step.
I'm proud of you!
Refana
Kittens, puppies and ponies are lovely things and knowledge of these things will inform your practice. I am glad that you have recovered and once again I apologise unreservedly for using the word bollocks.
Julian: Refana Kittens, puppies and ponies are lovely things and knowledge of these things will inform your practice. I am glad that you have recovered and once again I apologise unreservedly for using the word bollocks.
Refana? Could you mean me? Did you get a sneaky 'f' in?
I have some new pink tinted glasses and when I read any offensive word beginning with 'b', it will automatically get positively filtered into 'buttercups'.....aaah.
Boxerdog: Hello I've just had a knock on the door...woman there I've never met before...she demands entry in my house and in true Rab C. Nesbitt fashion takes 20 minutes to tell me I'm scum...and my family are scum...and worse....my dog is scum.....then she asks me how I feel about it....most confusing
Scum positively transforms into 'super'-I will get you the pink ear filter.
SUPERSCUM refana????lol
That's the next Daily Mail headline written...and not a phoned hacked in sight
Boxerdog: SUPERSCUM refana????lol
Super, smashing scum, Boxerfog.
touche and a great big belly laugh to you...with Xmas bells on it
Indeed I did mean you and I don't know where the fing f came from.
When ever I hear or see the word buttercups I will now immediately think of bollocks (not literally you understand).