This press release from the GSCC is an utter disgrace. They first off presume they have a future (at all), second they believe they have something to contribute, third they assume any competence (they are under special measures) but fourth and worst of all they believe they have the moral foundation (“compass”) to judge others.

See the press release here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/News+and+events/Media+releases/Media_release_17-03-10.htm

We believe this is the equivalent of “whistling in the dark” (as in nervously walking down a dark alley feeling very nervous but trying to appear confident to ward off an attack). In reality the GSCC are fighting for their life and they are grasping at any opportunity which might deter any further attack on their status e.g. we are big girls and do not take us on.

The fact is “darlings”  your future is already written, and it aint as you hope or aspire to – you’re dead meat girlies and no amount of whistling  will improve your chances of winning confidence with anyone.

We see the Care Standards Tribunal continue to regard the GSCC as utter dorks, see here: http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/View.aspx?ID=1071

Wilt is aware that other findings will yet further prove the fuck ups of this most fucked up organisation.

Twats!

Wilt

Wilt wondered what was going to happen with this case – Rosalind Shaw. It is listed here for a Care Standards Tribunal appeal date to be fixed.

http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/View.aspx?ID=1072

Rosalind Shaw’s case  was reported in Community Care, here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/10/06/112793/hospital-social-worker-struck-off-for-repeated-failings.htm

The GSCC press notice is here:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/News+and+events/Media+releases/Rosalind+Shaw+conduct+hearing.htm

Wilt commented at the time:

“Well, let us take Rosalind Shaw a 65 year old Hospital Social Worker. There is no suggestion that she was a serial failing social worker over many years. She never robbed anyone or shagged her clients. At the end of a career most of us are ready to be shelved and our performance and energy is less than it should be – in fact it must be rare to find social workers still active at 65 years.” – see: http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/10/dorks-with-bells-on/

There was nothing proportionate in removing the woman from the Register and it seems Ms Shaw agrees.

What is ironic is that the GSCC attempted to have the appeal “struck out” but the Care Standards Tribunal have refused. The GSCC had asked for more time to submit evidence for the “strike out” (which has not been forthcoming for months) and yet when Shaw (who had not attended the GSCC hearing) had previously asked the GSCC for a postponement, they refused.

What goes around comes around!

These case matters are always difficult to predict, but I remain amazed the woman was removed from the register – I think the Tribunal might find it a bit excessive. Again the issue is competence (and probably difficult working conditions) and not conduct. If there was ever a misuse and abuse of the term “conduct” the GSCC hold the gold medal as they are equally guilty of abusing process and power.

Good luck Rosalind.

This is going to be an interesting case. It had many a headline during the prolonged GSCC hearing and Hofstetter had a bit of a disagreement with Community Care on their reporting of the case.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/03/12/114043/Children39s-social-worker-to-appeal-against-being-struck.htm

A supporter of Hofstetter was once a regular correspondent on these pages and there is certainly another side to the story. Regrettably Wilt will be away for the appeal to the Care Standards Tribunal, otherwise he would have observed.

Keep calm Jacinter – however justified you might be how the GSCC deal with things.

Wilt

It seems the GSCC are becoming a little more thoughtful and considered in their judgements as is evidenced in this case, http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/03/09/114008/lancashire-family-support-agency-worker-admonished.htm which is further encouraging of their newly found proportional response. It is in contrast of course to more historical cases, not least in relation to Arthurworrey as one example, where clearly they were out to earn their spurs and prove to the Government that they were worthy of their existence – a history littered with despicable and outrageous attitudes.

Whilst there are signs of improvement we have not yet removed them from the Dork List and of course we must not let them become complacent. They are of course fighting for their existence at the moment and are effectively still under special measures.

We are still watching.

Wilt

The conviction of this mad woman for perverting the course of justice and wasting police time, causing massive expenditure in wasted police resources reminded me of someone – now who might that be? My mind is searching for a name. See the article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/mar/04/rape-claims-gail-sherwood

Answers please on a inscribed pin head. That should help narrow it down.

Wilt

Our fellow blogger Brick on his website Wall has a few thoughts on the abolition of the LSC (Legal Services Commission) who allocate public funds to lawyers (no Mrs C “lawyers” not frauds claiming to be one).

The Guardian reports the matter here:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/mar/03/legal-services-commission-abolished

Brick on his Wall Blog (http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/) gives a fuller and more detailed and personal account of this latest move. It is one among several efforts to manage the out of control public expenditure on both criminal and civil law costs paid to both lawyers and experts.

Brick (and my own) particular interest is the impact on civil proceedings e.g. care proceedings concerning children.

Brick may disagree with me, but I have always argued that the Children Act 1989 was a “charter for lawyers” (and GaLs/experts) – it was hailed as the “charter for children”, which is utter bollocks. Nevertheless, these moves (abolition of the LSC, CAFCASS meltdown and cutting of expert fees) are a little worrying and will indeed impact on Wilt, or at least potentially.

Ah well – other opportunities emerge which will keep the income flowing but of course the central concern of children and families representation in the further meltdown of local authority services (and local government in general) will probably result in further social care disasters. Thank you Mr Balls and Brown – utter Dorks.

Of course the public expenditure deficit could be significantly reduced if Mrs C of that Royal town simply stopped complaining and put a very large gag in her oversized gob! Sadly, not much hope of that – not yet.

Wilt

Here is the latest list of GSCC hearings: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/Upcoming_hearings/

And here are the latest Care Standards Tribunal list of hearings: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/Upcoming_hearings/

The GSCC are to revise their website and you can comment here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/ – beware however they log who has commented! We wonder why?

Wilt

There are some interesting news items this morning (apart from the no 10 bully).

First, Wilt had to vomit after hearing Ed Ferkin Balls on the radio “spinning” nonsense on sex education. It’s a shame his father/mother failed to use appropriate contraception.

Anyway, it seems Haringey are going to get a improved bill of health as according to Ofsted, those lovely people who first lose files then remarkably discover them again (Sharon Shoesmith) as distinct from a file which they never heard of (Mrs C).

See the article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8529249.stm

We are still waiting on the High Court to determine the Shoesmith case – we still predict she will win it and thereafter the GSCC cases against other Haringey staff will fail.

Meanwhile Cafcass are still hitting the headlines here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8528239.stm and our friends at Wall have this perspective http://wallofbrick.wordpress.com/ and as usual insightful on this issue.

Things aint going to get better soon! One of these days I will give my overview of Cafcass and its roots & recent history. In the mean time things are not looking good for children in Court proceedings for reasons beyond their control – it worked fine when the Probation Service ran the then GaL service.

Regrettably the Children Act 1989, well intentioned, fucked up big time by creating a “charter” for lawyers and some irresponsible and professionally dangerous and unaccountable Guardians (Children’s Guardians) – not as it intended a cross party “charter” for children.

Hence the creation of Cafcass – a similar disaster to creating the GSCC!

Personally I would dismantle both and start again. Both have damaged the social care profession.

And then there is this broadband tax! This is the greatest nonsense invented by some TWAT in Whitehall.

Wilt has the fastest (non-commercial) broadband connection yet available – and you know he had to pay for it, out of his pocket. Personally I find it worth it, others would say I was mad paying out hard earned cash for the benefit.

The BBC article is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8529015.stm

The Government position:

“Our analysis shows that without intervention, the market will only reach up to 70% of the country, so it’s vital we act now to ensure no area is left behind,” said a spokesman.

“The 50p duty we have proposed is modest, fair and affordable and is the best way to drive further investment in our networks.”

The MPs Committee position:

It [Business Innovation and Skills Committee] also said that it was concerned that government intervention in delivering ultra-fast speeds – known as Next Generation Access – would distort the market and that there was little demand for such services, said the BBC report. It added the Committee said:

“We think the market can be trusted to deliver faster speeds,” committee chairman Peter Luff told BBC News.

“The real priority should be the universal service obligation and the whole effort to increase digital inclusion.”

Let the market decide, I say. If you need it – pay for it yourself. Do not come to me for a sub.

In the mean time Guido Fawkes http://order-order.com/ has observed on the bully story here http://order-order.com/2010/02/22/have-you-dodged-a-nokia/

and further here: http://order-order.com/2010/02/22/mandys-porky/ and here:

http://order-order.com/2010/02/23/anger-management/

Ah well, on with work.

Wilt

The GSCC http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/has announced a new dream team to heads up its directorate – we at Regulator Watch think it is a to be short lived (Royal) team.

The official press release is here: http://www.gscc.org.uk/News+and+events/Media+releases/news_release_22-02-10.htm

The Community Care article here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/22/113866/gscc-appoints-three-to-senior-positions.htm

We wish them well……………

They have a major task on their hands and the greater scrutiny to the value for money/competence (combined with very severe public spending cuts) we admire these people for taking on such a disgraced organisation still under special measures.

Part of the dream team is Sherry Malik who is presently employed by Cafcass where she is corporate director of strategy and performance. That inspires confidence, given Cafcass is virtually under special measures themselves on issues of strategy and especially performance!

Gawd help us!

Meanwhile there is no news on March GSCC hearings, but the February list is here:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/Upcoming_hearings/

The details of concluded hearings are here:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/recently_concluded_hearings/

Nor have the Care Standards Tribunal http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/ yet updated their recent findings, see here: http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/search.aspx

You can find up-coming hearings here: http://www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/hearings.htm

Wilt (on the case)

The CCW (Care Council for Wales) who are the equivalent of the GSCC have made a 5 year admonishment of a former Barnardo’s worker for fiddling his expenses, as set out in this Community Care article here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/11/113775/ccw-admonishes-welsh-social-worker-for-dishonest-behaviour.htm

Naughty boy, but then he has had a good example to follow in our dishonourable MPs. Was he prosecuted we wonder?

Meanwhile the Scottish Nationalist Party and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has advocated to a Court in Edinburgh that her constituent Abdul Rauf should not be imprisoned for fraudulent claims of state benefits amounting to £80, 000 whilst owning a property worth £200,000 (which he rented out) and lived in a further property worth £400,000. It also emerges that Mr Rauf had a previous conviction for fraud (£60,000) and was sentenced to four years in prison. Obviously the TWAT does not lean and is simply a greedy bastard.

See the BBC article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8510133.stm

Ms Sturgeon pleads that the man is married with children under 10 years of age and has already paid back £27,000 of his fraudulent claims.

I suppose it is our fault, we elect these fools. I am growing in my opinion that these frauds, when they are locked up, should be made to pay for their upkeep i prison – a bit medieval but it reduces my tax bill.

Also in the news is the new IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission) who will cost us ££6.5M per year to employ 80 staff – that equates to £8, 250 per employee. Obviously that will include accommodation, National Insurance, Pension and other “on costs” but it still seems a bit steep. Do they really need 80 staff? I think not.

See the Telegraph article here:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7211733/MPs-expenses-watchdog-will-cost-6.5m-and-employ-80-staff.html

Also note that the Chairman of the IPSA (http://www.parliamentarystandards.org.uk/) Sir Ian Kennedy is on a three day a week £100,000 per year contract and whilst in his previous role with the Healthcare Commission as Chairman run up taxi expenses of £15,000!

Is this the right person for the job, we wonder? Gawd help us. Only Gordon Brown could have made this appointment – what a TWAT!

As yet no comment on this that I can find from Guido (http://order-order.com/) – he must be down the pub. I will join him shortly.

Also remember, the Healthcare Commission became the Care Quality Council – ex the NCSC and CSCI. Their website is here: http://www.cqc.org.uk/

If you want to apply to join the new IPSA, go here: http://www.theipsa.co.uk/microsite/index.asp

My application is in the post……….

Wilt