Which is worse, a one year suspension or a 5 year admonishment? Does either fit the circumstances applied in each case?

It is difficult to go behind the GSCC Committee on such matters as they are charged with handing down their disposal – albeit subject to potential appeal. See the Community Care article here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/07/23/114970/social-worker-banned-for-offering-client-weekend-of-ecstasy.htm

The formal notice of the GSCC findings is here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4DD0DB39-84FE-48C2-8938-42325E89D56A/0/NOTICEOFDECISIONCARNEY.pdf

And here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9E64FE17-F80A-4A86-8F24-7536079B13A5/0/CAHILLNoticeofDecision.pdf

Let us start with the latter case, Cahill.

He takes a service user/client down to the pub, touches up her bum and offers to take her away to Paris for a dirty drug filled weekend. What a fucking Dork of the first order. Cahill is suspended for 12 months as it was essentially a one off incident. It was however probably one of the most serious of acts of professional misconduct – a breach of professional boundaries and of trust in his capacity to hold the service users right to self determination and needs as paramount.

Some might think Cahill was quite lucky to get away with just a year suspended.

In contrast, Carney who admitted the offence of harassment and was convicted as such was subsequently admonished for 5 years by the GSCC. Why 5 years for Gawd sake?

There is no doubt it was a serious offence but it was both confined to a particular set of private circumstances (does not reduce its seriousness) and limited to a small number of events. The GSCC acknowledge he was under extreme personal pressure and again emphasise an otherwise long and successful career in social care, plus it did not involve a service user.

The man admitted his offence and regrets his actions. What then, exactly was the purpose of a 5 year admonishment?

His outcome is far worse (Wilt believes) than the year long suspension by Cahill and whose offence (in professional terms at least) is the worse. Yes Carney got it wrong, yes domestic abuse (emotional in this case it seems) is a no go area and highly serious – but 5 year’s admonishment after he admitted his guilt and dealt with by the Courts. Is that proportionate? What exactly was the GSCC thinking it might achieve?

You see Cahill after a year has, as it were, done his time and moves on – there is no mark against his name on the GSCC Register and, we assume, moves on. No one is any the wiser.

Carney however does not serve his term for 5 years – instead he carries the yoke of his GSCC Registration (a public name of shame board) until 2015. We find this very odd.

Most people will experience some crisis in their life, some several and a few many. Social workers, and others, aim to help people out of crisis and hopefully develop the skills to cope with crisis better (crisis intervention theory). Generally speaking, putting a yoke around their neck (labelling – give a dog a bad name) is not the accepted best method to help achieve better outcomes.

Regrettably the GSCC has confused, yet again, ‘outcomes’ with ‘outputs.’

Pick a number, any number between 0 – 5 and you tell me what seems fitting for Carney.

Now tell me what would you hand down to Mrs C for her harassment?  Not for her a one off or limited harassment of one person over a period of eight years, but together with basket case Dune Boy James Plaskitt (ex MP) harassment  IN FACT of numerous persons who by a process of other investigations are proven innocent of any harm to her/him.   Well, we will find out when it gets to Court, with her big black files.

We think Cahill was very fortunate; Carney dealt a very poorly judged disposal and Mrs C/Plaskitt will discover in all good time the meaning of breaking the law.

Wilt

What a fucking twat: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/07/21/114947/Doncaster-social-services-bomber-jailed.htm

You see social workers are in the eyes of some legitimate targets. This twat joins the ranks of the likes of Mrs C although her brand of terrorism is (to date) a little less physically violent.

What is it of late with these Northerners roaming the towns and countryside with guns and bombs? Now the latter bloke (the “screw” bomber) might have been tipped over the edge, but the two gunmen, and those that support Moat, were/are just fucking evil.

Wilt

Baby P is all over the news again, albeit this time to the benefit of social workers: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10478801.stm

And here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5ioLJvwhZ9UALJ6D7o_-7Z08lnmyg

And here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/childrens-services-blog/2010/07/baby-p-social-worker-wins-libel-case-against-haringey.html

We are pleased that there is justice after all – a bit like with Mrs C who will also soon be all over the pages of the press. Poetic justice, wherefore lacking Dunes Boy Plaskitt, for the moment!

Meanwhile, Doctors get some headlines too – aint it strange all this is so belated? See article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/10468747.stm

Perhaps the Doctor needs compensation too. The social worker certainly deserved it.

Wilt

One less social worker from the profession: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/06/03/114636/disabilities-worker-jailed-for-stealing-19000-from-client.htm and jolly good ridden to him too – just the kind of person the profession does not need.

One wonders how long the GSCC will take to remove him from the register. No rush one supposes but an easy task for the Conduct Team one can imagine.

Wilt

Quangoland is today looking over its shoulder to see if Michael Gove or one of his colleagues is approaching them with an axe. See BBC article here:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10221877.stm

Blooming brilliant – the General Teaching Council for England is as good as gone, although the GTCE seem to want to fight it. Fucking Dorks.

Who next, we wonder? The General Social Care Council must be on the hit list although of course that comes under the Department of Health. Here are a list of ministers: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Ministers/index.htm

Paul Burstow looks like the kind of man that could have an axe or three tucked up his sleeve. And then of course there are those nice people at Ofsted and indeed that utter mess Cafcass. Ofsted will not disappear but they certainly will be cut back in a way the term “cuts” has never before been used. After all with “people power” and parents running schools, who needs Ofsted inspectors.

Cafcass on the other hand would never be missed, by anyone – least of all children’s guardians and the Courts. Guardians are not needed in every case – indeed in some cases Guardians are simply an obstacle. Actually, some Guardians (like some social workers) are utter fucking Dorks and would not know one end of a child from the other – not unlike some Ofsted inspectors.

Get rid of Cafcass and a huge amount of dosh could be saved – allocate a budget to the Courts and they can determine if a Guardian is needed above and beyond a child’s solicitor. In fact, one could spot purchase the work of a Guardian in the same way as “expert” reports are purchased to address a particular set of questions. That is far more economical and will sort out the wheat from the chaff. They will live or die (professionally) on the basis of competence and not simply because the law says a Guardian must always be appointed or because have to have an overview of the complete case.

Talking of chaff, there are several more quango Wilt would add to the list, but Gove has made an excellent start. Example – the ISA.

Wilt

Oh dear, Mrs Shoesmith! And I do mean oh dear because it will be a blow to her and Wilt had hoped (and predicted) she would win this case. Obviously Wilt was wrong, but only technically. Technically the judgement was on a narrow and limited aspect of the case in accordance with the limited scope of the Court to judge.

It is quite clear the Judge was troubled and indicated that the Employment Tribunal would have a much wider brief – and he has indicated where, had he been able, the Tribunal could rightly question Haringey, Ofsted and Ed Ferkin Balls. All the main broadsheets (Guardian, Times & telegraph) reported on the matter as did community care, and in their latest post on the matter summarise where things are left:  http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/04/27/114382/implications-of-verdict-for-ed-balls-haringey-shoesmith.htm

One correspondent (to Regulator Watch) has also highlighted this article: http://www.clearlyhenderson.co.uk/uncategorized/sharon-shoesmith/

Meanwhile, Brick who has also been away on a break, has posted on Wall this article: http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/2010/04/27/shoesmith-ofsted-and-the-obligation-of-candour/

One thing I think all are certain about, this is not a closed case. And in a further article: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/04/27/114367/ofsted-faces-legal-probe-over-shoesmith-case.htm Ofsted aint free of yet further criticism, nor Ed Balls.

Meanwhile, on an unrelated matter Ed Ferkin Balls http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/balls-phone/ would rather risk the life of his kids, himself/wife and others by using his phone in the car – utter fucking Dork.

Wilt

Meanwhile the new Supreme Court has forced a judgement of a slightly peculiar nature and questionable wisdom:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8634239.stm

Has the correct balance been achieved? Clearly adults (offenders of gross acts) need to be given the right to be rehabilitated but children (victims) seem again to have a limited, if any, voice in proceedings. Why, for example, were not the NSPCC seeking party statuses in such a case matter and strenuously arguing child protection concerns? Where were, with all their money gained through public support, the NSPCC?

Nowhere to be seen – again!

Wilt (from his desk in Malta)

You will probably remember this article by the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8599616.stm

Not the best item of news for Ed (Firkin) Balls, (TWAT) Ofsted or (get me out of here) Haringey Council – good news however for Shoesmith in her battle against the apparent stitch up between her Court Respondents.

Now add this little revelation into the equation, in another BBC report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8616529.stm

The Care Quality Commission (http://www.cqc.org.uk/) containing remnants of the former CSCI, considered the findings of an experts report irrelevant in terms of findings it found in failures over the death of baby Peter and as such never published in full the clear evidence that health professionals failed very significantly, and to be balanced, failed its own professionals too (e.g. in lack of resources, limited or no training and allowing an inexperienced paediatrician to practice beyond her known competence).

Cover up, stitch up and let us shit on these individuals from a great height comes into Wilt’s mind, lending credibility to the notion of a new concept called “Shoegate” – as in “Watergate.”

It just goes to show, as Michael Portillo frequently (http://www.michaelportillo.co.uk/) observes, these quango inspectorates are all out to protect one interest only – their own.

Is one getting value for money from these twats, you know CQC, Ofsted, GSCC (et al) and, for example, the HMpci – no I never heard of them either but you can find them here: http://www.hmcpsi.gov.uk/? I think the simple answer is no, they are not value for money, any more than they claim to be independent of Ministers and Government.

Now Balls is an exception (a bully boy and of demonic possession i.e. God Gordon the Cyclops) but even he cannot be responsible for actions of the CQC. That comes down to another pathetic Minister, The Right Hon TWAT Andy Burnham (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Ministers/Ministersbiography/DH_100325).

Politicians, when convenient, say the work of quangos are independent of Government, whilst when it is also convenient, behind closed doors, they invite their political appointees of these unelected groups to discuss mutual concerns, as in the case of Ed Balls (or his henchmen). It is like something out of a B movie about the World War II fight against dictatorship (i.e. Hitler) – in other words not convincing and the script is oblivious to the intelligence of the watching public. Who do these people think they are fooling – themselves if they think the public are stupid.

Even Dork Plaskitt, in a very limited way and ultimately not to his credit, can drive the Information Commissioner to distraction and force ultimately an attempt, half- hearted, to do his bidding on behalf of Mrs C – not of course that he wants to have undue influence over the likes of the ICO, the former CSCI, police etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., etc……………………………. (it could go on for a long time and I will stop there, for at least my sanity).

But Plaskitt and Mrs C’s campaign of hate is small (in fact tiny) in comparison to the vitriol dumped on Shoesmith as much bigger issues are at stake – the survival of Balls and quango as they dance the light fantastic of deception, or they think. The same as Mrs C and Plaskitt, but their skills at dancing are limited to the Turkey dance – as in the bird rather than the country, although Mrs C visits the latter.

“Shoegate” is definitely taking hold, as is “MrsCgate.” Just different sides of the same coin, the head side and the arse side it seems. The difference however between heads and tails (arse) is that Shoesmith will win out (heads) and Mrs C and Plaskitt have already lost (tails) – the qualitative difference is Shoesmith has substance to her claims, others simply have no substance, and as far as Plaskitt is concerned, no political seat in Warwick and Leamington Spa in his very marginal position, so marginal he could be regarded as Dune bound – forever lost in the sands.

Balls et al are not going to come out of this very well, indeed it is likely that his bully boy demonic tactic will backfire and he will be well roasted. The man is a simple plonker, but a dangerous plonker because, he thinks, we are fooled. The only fools are Plaskitt and Mrs C.

We foresee Balls, Plaskitt and Mrs C floating off into the sunset, hand in hand and with great affection, (Mrs C please get your hand off James’ bum, it is otherwise reserved)  and burn up like Icarus ascending to the sun, wings not so much clipped as wings incinerated.

Wilt (from his desk in Malta)

Oooops it seems Stalin has risen from the grave, see the article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/7581916/Social-workers-actions-befitted-Stalins-Russia-says-judge.html

No news from other sources yet but it seems Justice Wall, a favourite of Brick (http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/) in his article here: http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/2010/03/31/mlords/ and here http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/every-child-matters-not-pt-2/ believes social workers are Stalinist!

Well, it is the Telegraph but nevertheless the use of the term Stalin is rather not slow in making a point!

We wonder if Community Care will pick up on this news.

Wilt

There are two new judgements published by the Care Standards Tribunal (CST) and three new cases listed by the GSCC for April.

Of the two CSCT http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/ cases it includes that of Jacinta Hofstetter who is something of a notable GSCC case as can be illustrated in the very complex, detailed and rather lengthy judgement published by the CST: http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/View.aspx?ID=1074

It is worth reading and although both Wilt and others are highly critical of the GSCC it does make it clear that the regulator did on this occasion not only get it right but bend over backwards to do so – the CST are usually spot-on.

Supporters of Jacinta have posted previously their concerns about her treatment at the hands of Brent Council and in particular the GSCC.

Read, and make up your own minds.

In the second CST case it is Jayne Sedgewick  v The Care Council For Wales (CCW). She is suspended primarily for her activities as a foster parent although it is her social work role that is pending a judgement by a full Conduct Hearing by the CCW.

Presently she is suspended from the social care register and Sedgewick has appealed against this. She has already had her registration removed as a foster parent and no longer employed. The criminal proceedings against her were however dropped.

Here is an extract from the judgement:

“Mrs Sedgewick is a registered social worker and also a foster carer working for an independent agency. In 2006 she and her husband fostered a 15 year old girl (A). Whilst in their care A entered into a relationship with an older man aged 19. It is alleged that Mrs Sedgewick knew about this and indeed allowed the boy to sleep with A at their house. She did not discuss this relationship with the childs social worker nor with her own support worker. As a result of this relationship A became pregnant. It is further alleged that on an occasion in March 2006 Mrs Sedgewick and A went on a shopping trip to Telford and stayed overnight in a Hotel. During the course of the evening it is alleged that Mrs Sedgewicke became drunk, allowed A to drink, became involved with a group of men, claimed A was her stepdaughter and aged 18 and allowed her to go to one of the men’s room where sexual activity took place. It is further alleged that when this matter came out she attempted to influence the man involved to lie about the evening.”

These of course are allegations at present time but if they prove to be correct then she must be listed as about the most dangerous of social workers (and former foster carer) in the UK. Dork would not be sufficiently expletive or descriptive – total fucking idiot comes close to it but I think I will settle on fucking twat.

Why is this woman still on the Register? Again the ever sensible CST give a clue:

“It appears to us given the gravity of the allegations and the matters we have outlined above that continued suspension is appropriate and we therefore dismiss the appeal. We have had cause previously to raise questions about the delay in bringing cases to hearing and the concomitant length of suspensions imposed by the Care Councils. In this case the effect of delay is extreme in that pending a final determination Mrs Sedgewick is actually free to work as a social worker from 31 March as the two year maximum period of suspension will have passed. This cannot be in the public interest. We note the particular difficulties of this case, firstly the criminal proceedings and the complications therein and latterly the hearings brought by her employer and the fostering agency. Nonetheless there is a tendency for the Care Council(s) to treat enquiries sequentially and allow other procedures to take place before they make their own enquiries. We would urge upon them a more proactive approach, particularly in cases like this when time limits are involved.”

In other words Care Council for Wales (CCW), get off your fucking arse and sort it out – twats. What is wrong with these people?

The full judgement can be found here: http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/View.aspx?ID=1075

Meanwhile recently concluded GSCC case matters are listed here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/recently_concluded_hearings/

Again some interesting reading, for those junkies like me.

The upcoming cases are listed here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/Upcoming_hearings/

There is an error on the page – the first case will not load-up after clicking on it and so the details are unknown.

In the two other cases http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6A16FCE1-0478-4903-9DDD-FE9D9D5C978B/0/InformationSMITHB.pdf it involves alleged theft of goods and services from a children’s home and in the second casehttp://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/43835DE4-21D7-4CAE-AE8C-8887883E6AC9/0/InformationSALISBURY.pdf falsification of case records (purporting to make visits to children/families).

These are of course allegations – the cases are yet to be proved.

Wilt