The trial of a Birmingham couple who it is alleged starved a child to death has had to be halted following three jury members being discharged.  See the Community Care article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/06/30/111975/khyra-ishaq-accused-face-retrial-after-jury-discharged.html

Wilt, keeping his ear to the ground, has heard a whisper that during 2009 Birmingham City Council (BCC) have had a further 7 child deaths and are keeping this quiet. This is of course unconfirmed, as yet. Even so, it may not follow that BCC (if the whisper is true) were involved with any of the families concerned, although it would be hard to imagine that they would not have been.

Let us see what news may emerge. The source previously worked for BCC but left because ‘it felt unsafe’. Wilt knows that feeling too.

Wilt

Why is Ed Balls being increasingly wheeled out instead of Alistair Darling to talk up the economy and how well placed Labour are to mend it? First Balls is on the Andrew Marr show whinging on about the wonders of Gordon and Alistair and now on the Today programme (here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8125000/8125872.stm).

Who does Balls think he is kidding. His ambition (self confessed) to become Chancellor or even PM might be an indication that he would be Gordon’s preferred succesor. If that were to happen, that would seriously cause me to think of leaving the country! Of course he and the cabinet continue to rely on this argument of Labour investment -v-Conservative cuts which is fast becoming as boring as the ‘we are the government that takes action -v-the Conservative do nothing’ mantra. Ah well, simple minded people, or is it we cannot think of anything better to say.

Now the latest economic indicator reported in the Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/recession/5695352/UK-economy-shrinks-most-since-1958.html

illustrate what a mess we are in. The only people who seem to be sticking their head in the sand are Gordon and Ed. The rest of the world recognise that the UK economy is up shit creek without a paddle.

Wilt’s mate (yes he has a few, still) is a local Tory councillor and he is quite clear that there are cuts being made and social care is not immune. And those cuts will continue long into the future to stop the ever growing public expenditure currentl at 50% of GDP. Yes, 50% – you heard me right the first time! That cannot be sustainable and of course Vince Cable on the Andrew Marr show again sets out the realities of future cuts in public expenditure.

And where exactly will social care funding stand whilst budgets are slashed? Not too well I say as Balls is too busy arguing ‘problem, what problem’ rather than putting his efforts into promoting the social care needs alongside other competition for an ever decreasing pot of money. Balls is not in my list of admired political figures at the best of times and I am certain he has never had his eye on the ball (sorry!) and gives the impression that his current position is simply an irritating stepping stone to higher office.

Keep an eye on your local council news to see how the cuts are going to impact – its a better indicator of the real world than anything you may hear from the Prime Minister or his allies.

I suppose if Balls did replace Alistair Darling or the Prime Mentalist (as Guido referes to him) it would mean that social care might benefit by a more focused minister – every cloud has a silver lining!

Wilt (will never get a gong at this rate!)

This was to be expected, see Community Care article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/06/29/111964/government-rejects-national-fees-for-foster-carers.html

However, I agree local schemes need to be set in the location where carers operate and (let us not forget) there are other fostering agencies other than local authorities, in both the private and (dwindling) voluntary sectors. Furthermore, the tasks of fostering are vast and carers operate at differing levels of competence. Fees need to be competence based, combined with task and needs to reflect the relationship between the child and carers e.g. kinship carers.

Although perhaps a minority view, I believe still that kinship carers undertake a unique task and it is rarely associated with professional fostering and more akin to following family obligations.

It was ever the case that incoirporating kinship care under fostering was utter folly Most kinship carers will not see themselves as foster carers.

No national registration of foster carers will seriously piss off the GSCC who would have been given the task to regulate foster care. They, of course want to regulate 5the world and his wife and grow as an agency out of all proportion to need, and common sense.
We need not more regulation but less – the GSCC seem however to have lost the plot and would, self serving as they are, like to expand. Gawd help us if they ever did.

Nick Robinson musing on the MPs allowances debacle and its reporting. At times I thought Nick was being a bit soft but he gives a fair analysis. Listen to it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00lh47j/Moats_Mortgages_and_Mayhem (cut and paste into your chosen browser).

Wilt

John Hemming is a millionaire businessman and Liberal Democrat MP for Birmingham. He is not unfamiliar with controversy as set out in his Wikipedia entry here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hemming_(politician). It would appear that he is a bit of a ladies man despite having a wife with three children – she claims he has had numerous affairs with other women, but they stand by each other despite this.

Ah well, it takes all sorts.

He must be admired for speaking his mind on a whole host of issues although he is less admired for his attacks on social care and in particular adoption matters – he is of the social workers abduct children to comply with government adoption standards kind of believer, which has not enamoured him with the social care sector, the social care press or indeed Government. If you do a search on the community care website under his name you will find various references.

He has a weblog (or blog) here: http://johnhemming.blogspot.com/ and his official political website here: http://john.hemming.name/. However most illuminating is this website: http://john.hemming.name/news/index.html which illustrates very well his desire at self promotion.

Interestingly Hemming missed the vote in the Commons on exemption of MPs expenses from the Freedom of Information Act, which given his long term campaign to make the Family Courts more transparent is very curious – indeed one could argue hypocritical.

Well, he is back in the headlines again having volunteered his business interests (on top of his MP and public duties) in the latest Telegraph revelations – note if he had not volunteered the facts he would have had to declare them under new Parliamentary rules, due in July. See the article here:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/5664344/MPs-second-jobs-John-Hemming-earns-more-than-200000-on-top-of-MP-salary.html

He is a rather odd fellow seen by many in social care as a bit of a joke and lacking any real understanding of child protection or adoption work. One wonders (especially given his numerous affairs, a proportion of which he admits) why he has such an issue with adoption – has he lost someone? He certainly seems to have lost touch with reality.

Community care: see here

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/03/11/110960/stand-up-for-social-work.html

are leading on this campaign and RegularWatch supports it.

There is an interesting podcast by Max Clifford – listen here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/02/06/110381/ivory-tower-the-podcast-for-everyone-in-social-care.html

on the issue of getting press coverage. However I aint too sure who he might think could take on the PR role as he envisages (and we agree) is necessary? The GSCC were hinted at but their kind of PR is too self serving, as they promote themselves as essential in whilst there are major shake ups in regulatory bodies. Besides which they are so poorly tarnished in the eyes of the profession to have any credibility.

Few reports are made in the press on Court cases, see here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/06/reporting-in-the-family-courts/

unless of course they are rather juicy and the tabloids can have a go at social workers. Community Care attacking the Sun is good, but alas one suspects that it will not be effective. Social work bashing goes back a long way, to my personal knowledge when in the ‘Boys from the Blackstuff’ TV play it had a scene of a social worker being head butted – that almost made attacking social workers legitimate in the eyes of some.

Things, in terms of public perception (and public respect), went downhill swiftly afterwards – and that was in the early 1980’s. So it is not a new issue – social care workers do a difficult job, and unfortunately some among us give the press the headlines they seek. However, it’s the same with doctors, lawyers, nurses and teachers. There is a general malaise in public opinion about professionals – it’s good to be sceptical, but not always helpful to be cynical. Criticism when fair needs to be taken on the chin but when unfair challenged.

Regrettably many have not that mantra central to their operation, for example the GSCC and the NSPCC, or some local authorities. They have too much to lose, (income for the NSPCC), continued existence for the GSCC and poor star ratings or even special measures for local authorities.

Perhaps Ofsted could be a good promoter of good examples of social care practice, but like the GSCC they have questionable competence in being able to recognise and discriminate between good and failing practice e.g. in their inspection of Haringey. RegulatorWatch will do its bit as will other bloggers but whatever and whoever does the job of talking up social care, it needs to be assertive and play, as Max Clifford indicates, the press game, and if possible find a few ambassadors. There is no room for the timid and whereas being self effacing can command rightful respect, it will not work alone.

Look how well the Ghurkhas case was promoted with Joanna Lumley. We need the Lumley factor or else SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence) http://www.scie.org.uk/

need to move up a gear.

Somehow I cannot see David Behan (Department of Health’s Director General of Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships) see profile here:

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/AboutUs/MinistersAndDepartmentLeaders/DepartmentDirectors/BoardMembers/BoardMembersBiography/DH_4138746

the former Chief Inspector of CSCI (another former error) will be up to it, even if it were in his brief to do so, bless him. We think he is a good bloke really.

So who will be the ambassador for social care? Wilt J? We think not. The NSPCC (pick me up off the floor), the GSCC (ditto) or Ofsted (Gawd forbid)? Ed Balls – you must be ferking joking!

However we would be interested in hearing your suggestions.

Wilt

The BBC radio 4 Today programme have reported on access (or not as it transpires) to the Family Court: listen here: ~~~~~~~> (copy/paste into your browser)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8118000/8118200.stm

Wilt or others in his business are involved in court work frequently. We have never seen a reporter once!

So, Community Care (www.communitycare.co.uk) you might want to either do so yourself or encourage other journalists to do so ………….

We will wait to see if  CC or others get their act together and report on the basic work of social care workers and others.

At random Wilt selected this minor MP ( assistant Whip – extra pay in other words)

www.davidwrightmp.org.uk/tellDavid.php

who appart from looking like a dork,  who is a dork is a nice looking and grounded person has been entirly honest, reasonable and fair in his expenses. At a very frequent claim of £400 per month for food he seems to have a eating disorder or must scoff on meals at the Ritz, whilst you and I get a burger in -between appointments, if we are lucky to get lunch at all.

He aint no minister or secretary of state (that would have defeated even Commons  foolish logic) and yet he lives a life on caviar, if his meal bill is true.

Is it possible please to get a tax rebate on the basis of MP excessive expenses?

Well, anyway, I sent him this email – I suspoect either no response or a dorkish response. We will see.

Details of email:

Dear Mr Wright

We are monitoring your expenses claims – this is an advisory note.

Will you be publishing non redacted details of your expense claims, or shall we?

Phillips razor? Will that be reibursed to the public purse? We think that an odd claim!

Further claims:

Bedding, furniture, ‘houshold items’ (circa £370.00) shower curtains X 2 (television
£599.00) and two Vacuum cleaners are noted, as well as other ‘electrical items’ (£270.00
plus) together with Video DVD (£69.98). Bedding totals nearly £200.00.

Oh, and the moving fee? will that be reimbursed to the public purse?

You have excessive claims for ‘food’ of £400.00 per month on numerous occasions. What
exactly is your diet that reqiores such a claim – perhaps you need medical attention!

We await your response within two days before publication and if necessary a formal
complaint on your extravagent and ill based claimes.

Wilt
Regulatorwatch

www.regulatorwatch.co.uk

Bercow!

Oh my Gawd.

We await with interst. He is a backbencher, he is Conservative (well kind of) – what else remains to be seen. And it aint Beckett (thank goodness) but I would still have preferred Widdecombe, bless her. I respect her grounded approach and fundimental honesty.

Did we trust the Honourable Members to vote for a truely inspirational and ground breaking Speaker – well for me, no. Is he the right man? I will reseve judgement, for now.

Guido on his website http://order-order.com/ usually has a good take on matters.

As Guido states, Guy Fawkes is the only person to enter Pareliament with honest intentions (to blow it up) – Widdecombe must come a close second but with more Honourable and democratic intentions. The trouble with democracy is that it is so bleeding slow – however, better that than the Iran System of elections!

Wilt remains however fearful that UK democracy is still not terribly representative, sensative or responsive. So, Bercow you are on probation – sort it, and soon.

Wilt

The Care Standards Tribunal (www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk) adjudicates on a whole host of central government/qango organisation’s decisions including the GSCC, the Secretary of State, Ofsted etc, and have over the years been a bit of a thorn in the side of those agencies.

For some strange reason their findings, despite their significance to Regulation in social care/teaching matters, are very rarely reported. They have managed to cause major embarrassment to numerous agencies such as CSCI, Ofsted, GSCC, BASW and others.

Need I remind you more than the case of Yvonne Brenda Henry who the GSCC in spectacular (but consistent) form almost managed to destroy the career of this social worker through simple GSCC incompetence. See the Care Standards Tribunal findings in that case matter here: henry-decision-220207 (this is the copy from the CST website).

The case of another social worker, this time Lisa Arthurworry of Climbe connection, was another matter which the Care Standards Tribunal (CST) were asked to intervene in, firstly by reviewing Lisa’s listing on the PoCA (Protection of Children Act) List which can be found here: lisa-arthurworrey-v-secretary-of-state-for-education-and-skills (this copy from the CST website).

The GSCC refused to Register Lisa and so the CST intervened on that matter at her request. That adjudication can be found here: la-decision-0206081 (this copy from the CST website)

Needless to say Lisa was then Registered.

As if the GSCC did not need any further bad publicity they went on to make representations to the Care Standards Tribunal to ‘review’ their decision – the GSCC lost that one too as can be viewed here: la-application-for-review-140708 (this copyfrom the CST website)

Thank Gawd for the Care Standards Tribunal who bring light and hope against the darkness of those at the GSCC, the Secretary of State, Ofsted and the array of other not so clever ‘regulators.’

Who regulates them? We do, with your help.

On a penultimate note take a look at this very good article on Lisa Arthurworry – good on you Lisa, and good on the Mail (Helen Weathers):

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1093640/Why-Baby-P-stood-chance–social-worker-blamed-Victoria-Climbies-death.html# (copy and past into your browser) – it is an excellent read.

And in a further Mail Report:

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1022847/Why-Mrs-Climbie-REALLY-blaming-herself.html a further perspective. (copy and paste into your browser) for a further interesting read.

Finally, I found this website:

www. victoria-climbe.gonetoosoon.org (copyand paste into your browser) pay tribute if you desire.

Wilt

ps await further CST adjudications of relevance to failures in regulation – scary stuff!! There is no end to the Dorkish behaviour errors made by some Regulators.

Links: www.carestandardstribunal.org.uk