November 4th, 2009
The report into the conduct cases backlog at the social worker regulator GSCC is published today. You can read the depressing findings at
http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/940CEBBE-88BF-48DF-A645-0E1B5E7FE1EB/0/090930_CHRE_GSCC_Finalreport.pdf
Conducted by the CHRE, whose job is to oversee the healthcare regulators, the report found poor-quality investigations, record-keeping and inconsistent decision-making andsays that inexperienced staff were not provided with adequate training, guidance or reasonable caseloads
Roger Kline of Aspect told Community Care that “the report will come as a surprise to no one who has had experience of the GSCC’c conduct procedures in recent months.”
However, he warned that “Aspect is concerned that the problems at the GSCC should not be used to justify halting the extension of conduct regulation to the rest of the social care workforce at a time when increased “remodelling” of the workforce means more work previously done by social workers may be delegated to other staff. The need for effective regulation is greater than ever and that message should not be lost in the response to this report.”
Tags: aspect, GSCC conduct cases, roger kline
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November 3rd, 2009
This is a new short book from the Social Work Action Network discusses the threats and opportunities for social work in the wake of the tragic death of baby Peter.
Alongside a chapter from Helga Pile of UNISON, the book contains a short chapter by Roger Kline of Aspect discussing why large numbers of social workers are not currently in a trade union at a time when trade union membership of other public sector professions is rising.- and some suggestions on how that might change.
The book can be ordered via http://www.socialworkfuture.org/?attachment_id=412
The Social Work Action Network has a web site at http://www.socialworkfuture.org/
Tags: Baby P, roger kline, Social work
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October 30th, 2009
Today is equal pay day
My colleague Helen Willis has put up a post on her excellent EYP blog which is well worth linking to at http://www.aspect.org.uk/eyp/2009/10/today-is-equal-pay-day/
There is still a long way to go across UK employment on this issue so forward this to any colleagues who may be interested.
Roger Kline
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October 26th, 2009
Education and social services union, Aspect, has called on the Social Work Taskforce to recommend an early review of social worker pay as a crucial part of its final report.
Aspect’s evidence http://www.aspect.org.uk/files/1851 was submitted earlier this month, and includes an analysis of both the levels of pay and the job evaluation schemes that local authorities rely on when grading social workers.
Aspect’s General Secretary John Chowcat says
“It is obvious that many social workers are significantly underpaid. The current arrangements depend on a legion of local supplements on a scale which confirms something fundamental is wrong. Our analysis of the two main job evaluation schemes in use in local government suggests that they are a major cause of the underpayment of social workers, as they understate their skills and responsibilities.”
Aspect’s analysis compares the two main job evaluation schemes in use in local government with the job evaluation scheme developed nationally in the NHS. John Chowcat says
“It is clear that the two main local government schemes do social workers no favours and significantly understate their skills and responsibilities. Until we have a national framework for pay that replaces the myriad of local supplements with a fair pay structure which addresses social workers specific skills and responsibilities, pay will continue to be too low and threatens to undermine other initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and morale.”
“Our evidence calls on the Social Work Taskforce to recommend an early review so that improvements to the pay of social workers can be made in ways that are sustainable and permanent. We know it will cost money to implement but that is part of the price of tackling the current crisis in social work.”
Tags: aspect, roger kline, social work taskforce, social worker pay
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October 18th, 2009
Political commitments to safeguard health spending could have an adverse effect on social care budgets, the director of NHS finance has warned.
The NHS Director of Rinance may have let the cat out of the bag by telling CIPFA’s annual health care conference on October 14 that although the overall health budget should be hit less hard than other Whitehall departments, it was significant that more commitments were being made for the NHS than for social care.
Pointing to the ageing population that will put all health care services under increasing strain in years to come, Bob Alexander said: ‘Health and social care will be under the same sort of pressure at the same time. And we know in the past social care hasn’t done quite as well as health in funding protection and funding growth.’
Roger Kline of Aspect said “This honest, albeit depressing, speech puts the debate on long term funding for the care of elderly into context. Care for the elderly is grossly under funded and it looks like things may get even worse, putting even more pressure on social workers’ duty of care and local service”.
Read more at
http://www.publicfinance.co.uk/news/2009/10/protecting-health-spending-could-hurt-care-budgets/
roger
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October 15th, 2009
In a decision that should have patients and relatives everywhere jumping for joy, and has implications for social workers, whistleblowing nurse Margaret Haywood has been reinstated onto the nursing register.
Margaret Haywood was struck off the register after she assisted a Panorama exposure of shocking conditions at the Royal Sussex Hospital.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, whose scandalous decision ended Margaret’s career earlier this year, has done a spectacular u-turn. Having vigorously defended their original decision which sent out a message to whistleblowers across the NHS to seal their lips, the regulator has had to execute a humiliating climb down.
Faced with a vigorous campaign and legal action by the Royal College of Nursing, and isolated by public opinion, the Council has agreed at the High Court to replace the career-wrecking removal from the register with a one year caution. Apparently the High Court has powers of persuasion that the original hearing that struck her off the Register failed to understand.
Read the agreed statement at:
http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspx?ArticleID=3893
Roger Kline welcomed the decision on behalf of Aspect and said “The original decision was perverse and unjust and sent out competely the wrong signals. This agreement redresses the balance and I hope the NMC have learnt their lesson. Time will tell if they have”.
Tags: aspect, margaret haywood, roger kline, whistleblowing
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October 13th, 2009
The long-awaited registration of home care workers in England by the General Social Care Council has been put on hold yet again. The reason given by the Department of Health is to allow the GSCC to improve its conduct function which has been heavily criticised.
This delay is bad news and begs the question as to when, if ever, the much delayed extension of registration will ever happen despite the crying need for it.
You can read Community Care’s article at:
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/10/12/112838/dh-suspends-long-delayed-registration-of-home-care-staff.html
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October 13th, 2009
Polly Toynbee, in an excellent article in the Guardian today, says:
“In a triumph of upside-down logic, the myth that an overpaid state sector is to blame for the crisis has taken poisonous root”.
Pass this to your colleagues – some excellent facts!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/oct/12/conservative-public-sector-cuts
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October 12th, 2009
Aspect has responded to the Skills for Care/ADASS/DH consultation on the roles and tasks of (adult) social workers. You can read our response here:
http://www.aspect.org.uk/files/1850/Aspect_response_to_adult_roles_and_tasks_consultation_final.doc
We have raised a number of the same issues as we raised in the parallel consultation which has taken place for children’s social workers.
Both consultations are linked to the work of the Social Work Taskforce which is now expected to report during November not October.
Thanks to Aspect members who contributed to our response.
You can find the original consultation we have commented on at http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/socialwork/rolesandtasksofsocialworkers/sw_roles_and_tasks_of_social_workers.aspx
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