Wilt has found an internet cafe in a small town in Malta where he can get a reasonable connection speed via Wi-Fi on his laptop. Valletta is just too busy, and since I last came here, far too expensive. It remains however a wonderful city to behold both day and night – its architecture is exquisite and the light for photographers perfect.

The sun is shining and it is getting very hot – we look forward to the deep dive later this afternoon. The sea remains a little chilly this time of year. Later in the year it is just too hot on land whereas the coastal waters (at least) allow free snorkelling without a wetsuit or dry-suit. For now the wetsuit should suffice. Today we dive a wreck or two in deep sea.

Meanwhile we have charted our journey to Sicily and will spend a few days there before embarking for home – and back to work. Not before however visiting again Mount Etna.

However, before all that I have been keeping up on news in the internet cafe.

We see Southall is still fighting his case, see here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8631796.stm

As the article observes:

“Dr Southall is viewed as an expert in Munchausen’s syndrome by proxy, a condition which means parents deliberately induce or fabricate illnesses in their children to get attention for themselves.

He pioneered the use of covert video surveillance in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which led to a number of parents and step parents being prosecuted for abuse.”

That “condition” remains to have some credibility (just) provided of course it does not involve Dr Southall directly in the assessment. It is however distinct from Munchausen’s syndrome (less the proxy bit) which is the believed condition of Mrs C – she attracts attention to herself as distinct (by proxy) to others. It is a well researched and understood condition.

It seems Dr Southall is not going to give up defending his case.

Wilt (from his desk in Malta)

As per my earlier posting (see here: http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2010/02/bit-of-a-spat/) the lawyers have struck back, and rightly so.

Half Time Score:-

BASW 0 – 2 GSCC

See the Community Care Magazine article here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/08/113752/barristers-reject-basw-claim-of-ignorance-among-free-lawyers.htm

Personally, if I needed help I would get a lawyer – even if I needed to re-mortgage my house. Although having some notable success in some cases, BASW on the whole have not yet established themselves as fully up to speed and despite their “Professional Indemnity Insurance” scheme I have yet to hear of a case involving the GSCC where that has been used – it was notably lacking (and criticised) in the case of dear Lisa Arthurworrey.

Perhaps Wilt could act as a referee in this game? Mmmmmmmm.

And, as if BASW needs any further bad publicity, one of its own (former) officers needed some help in a Conduct case – we wonder if they had a Full Time BASW Advice and Mediation Officer to help them before being delivered a three year admonishment?

See the article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2010/02/08/113750/ex-basw-officer-reprimanded-for-giving-misleading-evidence.htm

Oooooooops!

Final Score:-

BASW 0 – 1 Care Council for Wales

You could not make it up, really!  And here I am meant to be keeping the regulators in check – Wilt slaps his own face saying “stupid boy.”

Unless the GSCC and others continue to be stupid I am going to complain that they ruining my burgeoning second career as a web journalist – well OK bog basic blogger!  One has to say BASW are at risk of being relegated to “Dork” status unless they improve their game.

BASW have this article here: http://basw.tumblr.com/post/352488674/basw-online-exclusive-most-social-workers-choose-not Does not say anything about their success or failure rate, nor the criticism of BASW by the Care Standards Tribunal (CST – Lisa Arthurworrey) or indeed overall the number of social workers reinstated by the same Tribunal.

However having five full time officers will no doubt improve the service and, somewhat VERY belatedly address the concerns they themselves identify in the Conduct process.

However take their new look web page as pure advertising for now (you can only use the service if a member – after a period of time) to help increase membership of BASW. I will judge them on their performance in actual practice. To date that has been very mixed.

Wilt

I suppose the lady was lucky not to be a social worker – I suspect none of the Regulators (e.g. the GSCC) would have allowed her to continue to practice. See the BBC report here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/8486936.stm

Why are there such differences in how Regulators dispose of cases? Quite remarkable really!

Wilt