If ever there was a mean-spirited gaffe made during the festive season it was Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent attack on children’s social services. An exploding yuletide log for social workers, no less. Moreover, it was a direct assault on a profession I have a huge empathy with and respect for.
Continue reading Privatisation is not the answer for failing Children’s Services?
Can localism work during a time of huge public sector funding cuts? It’s a question that goes to the heart of front line service delivery.
A few months ago Olly Martins, Bedfordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner, devised what he thought was a practical way to fund 100 more police officers for front line duty in the county. He argued these additional services were required to deliver basic levels of policing in times of austerity and cuts.
Continue reading Localism: is it putting children and vulnerable adults at risk?
Most things are socially defined by what people say or do, or how they are in their social groups and teams.
Through the eyes of a child, all professionals “are all simply adults with authority”. They do not necessarily see or understand professional training, status, qualifications or experience. They also do not necessarily understand the complexities involved in keeping them safe from harm or support delivered through partnership arrangements.
Continue reading To build change you need a whole systems view on partnerships
It is critical that the next government defines what we should expect of social workers working with our most vulnerable children, young people and families.
The five main political parties in England and Wales revealed their manifestos in April outlining plans for the country if elected on 7 May 2015. Unfortunately, the collective manifestos were hardly bursting at the seams with social care and social work-related policy; there was precious little written on ‘social work’ or ‘social workers’, for example.
Continue reading It is time that we stand up for social workers
The BASPCAN Congress 2015 might have been the 9th such congress, but it was my first – first for me as a professional who is passionate about safeguarding vulnerable people whatever their age, and a first for my company as an exhibitor.