Here we go again – another utterly stupid (so called) “Conduct” case to be brought of a social workers jokes (and we all have them) about the likes of Gary Glitter. It is the kind of stuff that keeps most social workers both in good mood, grounded in reality and allows a little mirth along the way. Indeed it helps retain some semblance of sanity.
The case is set out here in a Community Care article: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/01/28/113662/social-worker-faces-misconduct-charge-over-gary-glitter-email.htm
I think I have seen this email myself (about Glitter – the pervert), albeit some years ago and I suspect it had a certain common currency among most social workers and other professions, but especially overwhelmed, generally overworked and somewhat distressed social workers. It’s that email reading over a cup of coffee first thing in the morning in the office that allows you to keep up the spirits and sometimes, quite frankly the will to live and do the daily business of dealing with the consequences of the likes of Glitter dishes out daily.
OK it might be a little offensive to some, but most reasonable people would look at the email and (albeit they may not admit it) have a quiet laugh – most people I suspect would laugh out loud. It’s all about releasing tension, adding some sugar to that coffee and generally finding a reason to continue in frontline social work – which is a shit hole (sorry for the pun – unintended) of a place most days.
Now for once this seems not to involve the GSCC in prosecuting this complaint (sic) if that in reality it is what it is – naughty boy, how dare you promulgate that email and inspire images (jokingly) that others might (rightly) conclude that Glitter is a fucking (again excuse the pun) CONVICTED pervert.
This is not a valid complaint – the man (social worker) found the email extremely amusing, and so did I when I viewed the attached image. I chuckled and laughed loudly over my (one sugar please) coffee at 6:00am many moons ago – we business people rarely sleep you know!
What is an absolute travesty (apart from bringing the case at all) is that it relates to actions in the summer of 2008 – yes 2008, you know well over 18 months ago. Why the delay for the Scottish version of the GSCC http://www.sssc.uk.com/ – are they experiencing the kinds of problems the GSCC have faced?
Now usually, to be balanced, the SSSC (http://www.sssc.uk.com/) are much more grounded, and well sensible, and I must admit to being shocked. There is reference in the Community Care article (see link above) to other emails about adoption and same sex couples – what they are is certainly unclear to me but I suspect might be possibly (in reality) less perceived as “oppressive” and more inclined to the (inevitable I think) kind of benign need to keep a healthy perspective on the working day – perhaps not wise or helpful but is this really an issue of conduct for the regulator? Perhaps the Community Care article has used the wrong headline – perhaps it is the other emails that are more offensive?
We will wait with interest whether Community Care have got this “emphasis” wrong or if the SSSC (the sister of the GSCC) have cocked up again.
Wilt