Community Care articles from May 2009

Community Care archives from May 2009

News.(British Association of Social Workers)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
May 7, 2009... BASW conference nibs BASW has agreed to launch a campaign to tackle stress and workplace bullying. The motion was carried at BASW's AGM following Community Care's recent survey showing 72% of social workers face burnout due to making...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... The British Association of Social Workers has overwhelmingly rejected rules to allow journalists to report on family court hearings. Members said the rules, which came into effect in England and Wales last month, could breach the privacy of...

News.(identification of child and adult offenders with mental health problems and learning disabilities)
May 7, 2009... Criminal justice system 'misses' mental illness maria.ahmed@rbi.co.uk Criminal justice and health staff must improve identification of child and adult offenders with mental health problems and learning disabilities, according to a...

News.(Inchmarlo Continuing Care Retirement Community, Scotland)(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... FLOWERS OF SCOTLAND Gardener Billy Carruthers with some of the flowers he is transporting to Inchmarlo estate on Royal Deeside, home to Scotland's first retirement village. The 17th century gardens at Inchmarlo Continuing Care Retirement...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... news in brief VOLUNTARY SECTOR Nearly one-fifth of charity bosses plan to reduce the number of paid staff because of the recession, according to a survey by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Half believe the financial...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... Social worker struck off for preying on vulnerable client sally.gillen@rbi.co.uk A social worker who fathered two children with a vulnerable service user has been struck off the social care register. The man, who was referred to as...

News.(Scott Watkin as national co-director for learning disabilities)
May 7, 2009... learning disabilities Olympian appointed as new national co-director mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk The Department of Health has appointed Scott Watkin, a Special Olympics athlete, as national co-director for learning disabilities. ...

News.(gross misconduct of social workers)(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... 'Haringey's sacked staff are scapegoats' Community Care readers have questioned Haringey Council's decision to sack four staff in the wake of the Baby P case, warning practitioners may have been made scapegoats. The north London...

News.
May 7, 2009... Wanted: 16 frontline staff to help inform Taskforce mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk Box: Practitioners Reference Group Reference group will help shape the proposals of the taskforce, due out in October mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk ...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... news in brief lord LAMING review The government was due to publish its response to Lord Laming's review of child protection after Community Care went to press. For full coverage see: www.communitycare.co.uk. SWINE FLU A...

News.
May 7, 2009... Every week we will suggest actions that you can take immediately to Stand Up Now for Social Work. This week: 1 Fill in our survey. Give your views on what could be done to improve social work at www.communitycare.co.uk/SUNsurvey 2 Fill...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... daniel.lombard@rbi.co.uk Community Care has launched a survey of social workers, mirroring a poll by The Sun newspaper that asks its readers about the future of the profession. The tabloid's agony aunt Deidre Sanders, who also sits on...

News.
May 7, 2009... Care provider will go to court over lost contract comcare.news@rbi.co.uk A private care provider is taking legal action over the Youth Justice Board's decision to withdraw its contract to run the last secure children's home in London....

News.(West Sussex County Council took part in the making of the film, The Real)(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... making it real Looked-after children at West Sussex County Council recently took part in the making of a film, The REAL Tracy Beaker in which they shared their experiences of the care system. It took its title from the fictional TV series based...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... news in brief CRIME A care assistant was sentenced to life imprisonment last week after setting fire to the bed of an elderly dementia patient while she slept at a Cheshire care home. Christopher Bowyer, 25, was convicted of the...

News.(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... news in brief CRIME A care assistant was sentenced to life imprisonment last week after setting fire to the bed of an elderly dementia patient while she slept at a Cheshire care home. Christopher Bowyer, 25 was convicted of the...

News.(on elderly abuse)(Brief article)
May 7, 2009... adult protection Nine in ten abused lack support in England Charity Action on Elder Abuse has renewed calls for legislation on adult protection after revealing a huge variation in the effectiveness of local authority referral systems...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
May 7, 2009... 7Maywordonweb The big biscuit debate (pic of biscuits) Blogs CareSpace Quiz (use pic of our 1974 cover) CCLive - meet the team Simeon says The Ed Balls skipping challenge (pic of Ed Balls)

News.(Lord Laming's call for child protection funding)
May 14, 2009... Ministers 'missing the point' after they stall on funding mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk and maria.ahmed@rbi.co.uk The government has been accused of "missing the point" of Lord Laming's call for adequate safeguarding funding after its...

News.(child protection initiatives)
May 14, 2009... upcoming child protection initiatives June 2009 * Ofsted begins three-year programme of safeguarding inspections. * Revised guidance for directors of children's services and lead members published. July 2009 * Revised...

News.(increase in social care applications)
May 14, 2009... Cash crisis fear for councils after number of care applications soars Children's directors stay calm after Cafcass findings reveal 'Baby P spike' in applications comcare.news@rbi.co.uk Councils could face significant financial...

News.
May 14, 2009... daniel.lombard@rbi.co.uk National press coverage of social work is mostly negative and about crisis situations, and focuses almost entirely on children's services, a Community Care study has found. Our exclusive research shows that...

News.(helping the elderly combat abuse)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... Independent advocacy can play a significant role in helping older people combat abuse but access to services remains limited, according to a report this week. A study of 98 cases in which advocates had supported alleged abuse victims, from...

News.(Fairer Fee Forum)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... New bid to boost care fees A campaign to raise care fees is threatening the first judicial review against all English councils. The Fairer Fee Forum (FFF) has been established to put pressure on councils to ensure fees meet the costs...

News.(foster carers reaching retirement)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... Fears of fostering crisis as carers reach retirement age maria.ahmed@rbi.co.uk The national shortage of foster carers is set to worsen dramatically as two-thirds of the workforce approaches retirement age, the Fostering Network warned...

News.
May 14, 2009... CHILD PROTECTION The Care Quality Commission published a report yesterday (Wednesday) on the care of Baby P by four NHS trusts. The review was commissioned by health secretary Alan Johnson last December. Full story from...

News.(Integrated Children's System reform tailored to support social workers' needs)
May 14, 2009... More ICS reforms are needed to make system support staff mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk Directors have welcomed reforms to the Integrated Children's System but say the government should go further in tailoring the system to social workers'...

News.(social work code)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... workforce GSCC 'surprised' at moves for a separate social work code The General Social Care Council has said it was surprised by the government's decision to establish a separate code of practice for social workers in England. The...

News.(Lord Laming's call to split the social work degree)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... training Decision on degree split postponed to October The government's decision to put on hold Lord Laming's call to split the social work degree after a generic first year has been welcomed by education chiefs. The government...

News.(confusion regarding government-funded social care agencies' roles)
May 14, 2009... taskforce Staff are confused and frustrated with role of national social work agencies "We provide a strong voice supporting social workers with evidence of good practice"e_SFlb Allan Bowman, Social Care Institute for Excellence ...

News.(Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services' survey on social care personalisation)
May 14, 2009... Progress on personalisation not matched in workforce Development of local area workforce strategies limited as councils plan care management overhaul maria.ahmed@rbi.co.uk Councils are making good progress in personalising adult...

Self-funders given short shrift.(Letter to the editor)
May 14, 2009... letter of the week Gillian Dalley, The Relatives and Residents Association elf-funders do not shy away from council services ("A fair deal for self-funders?", 30 April, www.communitycare.co.uk/111413). They are often turned away when...

Reviews.(Autism, Discrimination and the Law: A Quick Guide for Parents, Educators and Employers)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 14, 2009... Autism, Discrimination and the Law: A quick guide for parents, educators and employers aaaaa James Graham, Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN 9781843106272 This is a precise and jargon-free guide to disability discrimination...

Working Lives.(social workers)
May 14, 2009... Brave decisions and a case of bad timing Helping move a daughter away from an abusive mother gave Richard Pearl confidence in his own decision-making, but he erred in taking on more work while a new father The best A few years ago...

Opinion Columns.(income disparity and unequal societies)(Critical essay)
May 14, 2009... inequality is bad for all Countries where there is stark inequality, such as the UK and US, place all their citizens under greater threat of poor mental health The experts proclaim how to improve the practice of social workers and the...

Reviews.(Excellence in Dementia Care: Research into Practice)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 14, 2009... Excellence in Dementia Care: Research into Practice ayaayaayaayaaya Murna Downs and Barbara Bowen (eds) - McGraw Hill/OU ISBN 9780335223756 Dementia now affects 24 million people worldwide - a figure which is expected to...

'So many success stories'.(Interview/Profile)(Julie Gray)
May 14, 2009... Julie Gray has been a social worker with Bexley Council's children and families team for 27 years. Here she explains why she still loves her job Ihad originally planned to be a teacher. But during a placement at a school, I helped a child...

How toimprove foster care?(Features)
May 14, 2009... As Fostercare Fortnight gets underway a parliamentary committee has weighed in on how to improve foster care. But some of its proposals run contrary to government plans, reports Louise Tickle As a child who is taken into care, your life...

Reviews.(The Myth of the Chemical Cure)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 14, 2009... The Myth of the Chemical Cure ayaayaayaayaaya Joanna Moncrieff, Palgrave Macmillan ISBN 9780230574311 This remarkable book should be required reading for all prescribers, as the author exposes misconceptions and assumptions...

Proven Practice.(evidence-based social care practice)
May 14, 2009... the evidence base for social care practice Nutritional care and older people Each week the Social Care Institute for Excellence analyses research findings behind specific social work practices ood and mealtimes are a high priority...

Cold-hearted care.(Working Lives)(Samantha Morton's "The Unloved")
May 14, 2009... A care home is no haven for a young girl in Samantha Morton's directorial debut, says Anabel Unity Sale The Unloved, the directorial debut of Oscar-nominated actress and former looked-after child Samantha Morton, opens with gentle birdsong...

Backchat.(expanding social workers' skills)(Brief article)(Column)
May 14, 2009... Talking blue skies In his monthly "Talking Blue Skies" column, management consultant Des Budd answers your work-related problems Q: My manager has told me I need to "Put some more tools in my toolbox". He thinks I should attend a...

Reviews.(Mental Health Foundation campaigns)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... Mental Health Foundation campaigns Mental Health Action Week came and went in April, but the Mental Health Foundation has kept the results and resources of their campaign, focused on overcoming fear and anxiety, on the website. Alongside a...

A mother in danger of a life inside.(Practice Panel)
May 14, 2009... Social workers and a service user offer advice on a case involving a mother with learning disabilities who is descending into a life of crime the user view Amy Forgacs, project worker at Speaking Up, a charity that empowers people...

Features.(challenges involved in adoption)
May 14, 2009... tatistics show that what people want are white female babies, but they're rarely available. What's available is mixed race, older kids and those with learning difficulties," says David Akinsanya. "If you're going to adopt a child you'll...

Backchat.(a social worker's diary)
May 14, 2009... Diary A social worker in a residential intermediate care unit writes Monday A new week. The first job on my list is to check my pigeon hole to see if there are any emergency duty faxes regarding service users who have been discharged home...

The good news is out there.(My practice)(social care quality)
May 14, 2009... The media may have difficulty in finding good news, but that shouldn't deter services from focusing on the positives, writes Mark Drinkwater ocial care services have come in for flak from newspapers in the past year. It was ever thus. But...

News.(personal hygiene of service users)
May 14, 2009... washing away our woes? Social care staff need to address poor hygiene of service users: it can be a sign of a lack of self-care or an expression of eccentricity One of the difficult areas that social care workers often have to deal...

Features.(social care achievement)
May 14, 2009... The Excellence Network recognises achievement in social care. Honoured teams will be invited to the presentation at this year's Community Care LIVE on 13 May The Excellence Network recognises achievement in five key areas. This week...

An idea without substance?(Features)(alcoholism treatment)
May 14, 2009... The government has suggested forcing benefit claimants with an alcohol dependency into treatment. But rehabilitation staff are adamant compulsion will not work. Mark Hunter reports There is no quick fix to alcoholism. No easy way to break...

Features.(social worker Ariel Bruce traces missing people)
May 14, 2009... utting Edge: The Homecoming tracks journalist Rachel Roberts in her quest to find other children from the care home where she lived as a child. Her successes are largely thanks to the behind-the-scenes work of independent social worker Ariel...

News.(newspaper coverage of social work)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... Get the message out there The Social Work Task Force this week bemoaned the lack of a national voice representing the social work profession. The theme resonates withthe results of Community Care's in-depth study of newspaper coverage of...

News.(career for foster carers)(Brief article)
May 14, 2009... a career for Foster carers To mark the start of Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network has warned that two-thirds of the UK's foster carers are in their 50s, 60s and 70s. This is worrying since the success of the government'sCare...

News.(offensive language in media to describe social work system)
May 14, 2009... How bullying, tinpot Hitlers put children at risk in the daily war of the words Journalists used negative words to describe social work roughly five times as often as positive or sympathetic words, impressionistic data from Community...

Opinion Columns.(Cheltenham Borough Council's Christine Laird's mental health)
May 14, 2009... You'd be forgiven for paying no attention to the ins and outs of local government disputes. Most of the time they are a litany of falling outs, arcane vendettas and huffing and puffing. The story of Christine Laird, former managing director...

News.(obituary)(Obituary)
May 21, 2009... BASW founder member dies John Dossett-Davies, a founder member of the British Association of Social Workers, has died at the age of 82, writes Terry Philpot. He started his social work career in 1954, as a child care officer in the...

News.(Brief article)
May 21, 2009... Council social workers are facing increased pressures and lower staffing levels, working a lot of overtime and some experience abuse from service users, trade union Unison has found. A poll of 3,500 UK local government staff found nearly...

News.
May 21, 2009... My learning disability will open doors not close them, says tsar Watkin Special Olympian seeks to inspire others to succeed through government role maria.ahmed@rbi.co.uk Scott Watkin, the recently appointed national co-director...

News.
May 21, 2009... mithran.samuel@rbi.co.uk Social work needs to be clearly distinguished from social care in order to raise its status and quality, the chair of the Social Work Task Force has said. Moira Gibb told Community Care one of the key reasons...

News.(Brief article)
May 21, 2009... news in brief ADOPTION The British Association for Adoption and Fostering has apologised for the use of the word "retarded" in an adoption guide for gay people after it sparked an angry response from Mencap. The reference to "retarded...

News.(Brief article)
May 21, 2009... Social workers are needed in personalisation, BASW says Councils should entrust social workers to deliver the personalisation agenda rather than create new and "fragmented" roles, delegates were told. British Association of Social...

Opinion Columns.
May 21, 2009... It's no time to be timid The adult green paper must bring brave decisions from ministers on care funding - if not, the sector will have to lead reform Spring comes late for social care this year. The green paper on adult social care...

GP Column.(general practitioner)(Column)
May 21, 2009... The notions that early diagnosis and intensive intervention are critical for children with autism are yet another source of anxiety for their parents, writes Michael Fitzpatrick "Guilt-induced hyperactivity" is how one mother on an autism...

Time for family support.(Features)(Report)
May 21, 2009... Amid concerns that children's services money is being sucked into protection work, MPs have revived calls for greater investment in long-term family support, writes Josephine Hocking A preoccupation with child protection is distracting...

Evaluating the delivery of targeted family support.(Research Realities)(Report)
May 21, 2009... James Blewett discusses the implications for practice of a recent study of targeted family support, which he co-authored PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS The RESEARCH Title: Evaluating the delivery by Action for Children of targeted family...

Care costs: the public's view.(Features)(BBC Care Calculator)
May 21, 2009... The BBC's Care Calculator website reveals that many people are over-optimistic when it comes to care costs and who pays for it. Martin Knapp, Jose-Luis Fernandez and Teresa Poole take a closer look at the findings As the government...

Making the news.(Features)(social workers' media coverage)
May 21, 2009... Social workers may feel like giving up on the press because so many stories are negative. But there are ways of getting more positive stories into the media, writes Amy Taylor Haringey's reputation would always have been damaged by the...