As if Sandwell is bad enough, Birmingham (or at least parts of it) is an accident waiting to happen. Community Care also pointed to this article in the Birmingham Post: http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2010/02/24/birmingham-mother-and-children-found-hanged-were-known-to-social-services-65233-25899633/

A friend of Wilt once did some interim management in Birmingham and said he felt utterly unsafe and deskilled simply because of the impossibility to manage the vast workload. He came across some excellent workers there and was amazed at their dedication and resilience under what were really impossible demands.

Managers are quite used to “fighting fires” (metaphorically speaking) and revising priorities of workload throughout the working day (or week if they are lucky), but tackling outbreaks of fire combined with a force 9 gale, earthquake and a volcano erupting has a tendency to drive one a bit scatty. Rather than go scatty he, only having been begged not to, decided he would take up an easier living of being a car crash test dummy!

Like the GSCC and their ilk, Birmingham City Council needs to be dismantled and very carefully put back together – in its present state (and size) it is simply unmanageable.

And the good people of Brum (not that I visit the city unless forced) deserve a more coherent and fit for purpose conglomerate of smaller fiefdoms.

Until such time there will be more stories of disaster and more crash test dummies!

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

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

A Happy New Year to all.

Wilt and Salty Dog had a couple of days in the North Wales holiday home before being joined by Mrs Wilt, Ms Wilt and mother-in-law for the New Year eve festivities. Boy was it chilly on the beach but Salty Dog just loved it – more than can be said for Wilt. And thank Gawd for the 4X4 up those steep hills.

A new year, a new dawn and a chance for everyone to turn over a new leaf but alas we fear some fools will carry on regardless – eh Gordon? Talking of whom, he is listed as the worst dressed public figure in this BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8438862.stm.

Poor bloke – no one likes him it seems. The Cyclops of Downing Sreet carries on spouting the same old nonsense about investing money in public services whilst the rest of the world lives in a different environment, called reality. Hello Gordon, is anyone at home?

Like Guido Fawkes (http://order-order.com/) Wilt is also back at the desk. Guido is reporting on a plot to oust Brown (nothing new there) http://order-order.com/2010/01/04/audacity-of-pope/ and on his review of visitors to his website http://order-order.com/2010/01/01/stat-porn-2009-who-reads-guido/ which looks very familiar except Wilt also has Mr Plod, the GSCC, Ofsted, DoH and DCSF to name but a few – oh and of course some nice lady (sic) in an ex-council house in Leamington Spa. As suspected, and predicted, Mrs C has been on the Blog virtually every day over the holiday period. Has she nothing better to do, like a family life? Ah well, she falls into the group unable to turn over a new leaf – mind you, I am reliably informed she goes into some form of hibernation in January/February and then suddenly comes to life (sic) again in March. We will see – she is however rather predicable, indeed clockwork or otherwise known as obsessed. We must look up her ex-husband in Malta this spring when we sail there for a bit of scuba-diving.

Back to work, people to see, a dog to feed and reports and invoices to be produced – oh and a few TWAT late payers of rather large invoices to take to Court, only to have (as usual) the cheque inclusive of legal costs and interest (at 8%) produced, remarkably, the day before the hearing. Then they have the audacity to ask “can you take the following work?” Yes we say, provided you pay up-front 50% of the cost. “Um, ooooooh – oh OK”

TWATS.

Anyway, back to work.

Wilt

Anyway, in recent weeks gone by Regulator Watch has had more than its fair share of visits from Ofsted, the DoH, DSCF and the Police, oh and the GSCC and other Government agencies or quango. Ah well – we do not give a shit. No! Hope they enjoy it.

But then a certain local authority (I have been asked not to identify them) who might go by the abbreviation of SMBC (sorry if that is obvious to some) have been all over the Regulator Watch website like a rash. Any suggested connection (I am asked to say) has nothing to do with Plaskitt or Mrs C.

Just ignore it, says an old friend. In fact he even says “please.”

Well OK – for now.

Meanwhile Wilt remains infamous across virtually every continent and dozens of countries but primarily and obviously mostly in the UK. We thank our regulator contributors and the occasional one off commentators, and our regular observers/readers. These include regular stalkers and our biggest fan from Leamington Spa, now on BT Internet of late.

Wilt (providing a public service)

It’s all happening at the GSCC, and other places.

Firstly, Mike Wardle has been sacked, see the Community Care article her:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/11/09/113111/gscc-dismisses-chief-executive-mike-wardle.html

but one wonders is this another Sharon Shoesmith or Lisa Arthurworrey e.g. scapegoats? Somehow Wilt thinks this might not be the last we have heard of Wardle.

Meanwhile the GSCC has been placed under Special Measures, see the article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/11/05/113074/gscc-given-six-months-by-dh-to-improve-conduct-system.html

with six months to get their act together. There is also an interesting article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/social-care-experts-blog/2009/11/the-gscc-needs-reminding-of-wh.html

from Denise Platt, the former Chief Inspector at the now defunct Social Services Inspectorate (now that shows my age) and Chair of the CSCI (now also defunct). She makes some good points.

Meanwhile back at the ranch (GSCC) they have published the details of their latest conduct case, here:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/News+and+events/Media+releases/McLoughlin+Press+Release.htm

An extract from the press statement says it all:

“Craig McLoughlin, 54, who was employed by Sheffield City Council was found to have offered to buy Mr A, a user of services, an alcoholic drink despite knowing that he had been through detox for alcohol dependency. McLoughlin was drunk at the time and said to Mr A, whose father had passed away, words to the effect of “don’t worry about your Dad; I’ll be your Dad” and then went on to disclose to other people in the pub that he was Mr A’s social worker.”

What a dork!

There are three further upcoming cases listed here:

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

There are some juicy allegations in these.

Meanwhile the case of Elleni Cordingley is back in the news – she has won £8000 in compensation from Swansea Council who had sacked her when the Care Council for Wales (the Welsh version of the GSCC) they, grossly, removed her social work registration. The Care Standards overturned that decision and in the process demonstrated that the CCW were, shall we say, utter firkin Dorks.

At the time of writing about that matter earlier this year I said then that Swansea was as bad as the CCW, and this compensation payment confirms it. Nice one!

Elleni declined taking up her old job – I wonder why? Congratulations to Elleni. See the article here:

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/11/09/113113/swansea-social-worker-wins-compensation-after-conduct-reversal.html

GSCC under special measures – you could not make it up! Denise Platt said:

“A regulator must act firmly to take action when concerns about fitness to practice or conduct are raised. It is not only the public that demands this, social workers want it too. Professionals should be dealt with fairly, competently and with integrity.”

Fairness, competence and integrity – yes these are quite normal expectations. Do the GSCC do any of that? No!

Platt adds:

“A regulator needs to practice what it preaches and work to the highest ethical and regulatory standards in its own field. It should ensure that staff are properly trained and developed and that they are confident in their roles, properly equipped to do a difficult job.”

Platt should know all about that – look at the mess of the CSCI which she ultimately had responsibility for before its demise, like the NCSC before it. Mind you, neither the NCSC nor CSCI were ever as bad as the GSCC, the SSSC and CCW.

Platt concludes:

“This is not a good time for the social work regulator to be in trouble – the GSCC needs all the support we can give it at this time.”

Um, well can I disagree? I think the answer is to get shot of them and start again. They employ fools and are lead by fools. There are lots of unemployed people out there far more capable than this lot.

And if social workers demonstrated this level of incompetence, they would not be social workers any more. So, to that helpful list of qualities (“fairness, competence and integrity”) we could add equality?

Wilt

Another bites the dust. Generally the SSSC (Scottish Social Services Council) are a bit more grounded and sensible than the GSCC but one still wonders, is a social workers practice so bad that further training or other conditions on registration would suffice rather than lose another from the depleted ranks. After all she does not have serious criminal convictions (as far as we know), is in good health (as far as we know)  has not robbed her clients and not shagged a service user.

Social Workers are leaving the profession – one friend of Wilt who lives in Glasgow, and a very competent and experienced social worker, just threw in the towel last year feeling it was a no longer for her. She now works part time undertaking a very menial job but utterly loves it – no overwhelming sense of responsibility (she  turns up and does the business), no paperwork or unfathomable computer screens, and no stress. It does not pay so well, but so what.

Of course we do not know all the details of the SSSC case but one does wonder if removal from the register is warranted. Let us also remember that Aberdeen are in utter chaos having had poor inspections and did this social worker get all the support she needed, were there competent managers and was her workload reasonable?  Could not an admonishment with conditions on continued registration have been made? Is this another CST (Care Standards Tribunal) case in the making?  And of course we know the SSSC do make cock ups too – see the following: http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/08/scottish-social-services-council/

I do really hope the SSSC are not going the way of the nerds at the GSCC. That would be sad. Keep a perspective people, please.

See the article here: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2009/08/17/112376/social-worker-barred-for-repeated-child-protection-failings.html

The SSSC website here: http://www.sssc.uk.com/Homepage.htm

Oh and by the way Glasgow is an ever so nice city, and the people a treasure (preferably when they are sober). Mrs Wilt loved the shopping as Wilt wilted under the pressure of retail therapy – Gawd!!  However, even Wilt was impressed with the choice of the retail facilities. Mrs Wilt spent a fortune so Wilt has crossed off any further options to visit Glasgow for the foreseeable future. Money is far better spent on cider, fags and gadgets.

Hamden Park however (http://www.hampdenpark.co.uk/) is a shithole of a venue – in fact it’s a disgrace. Excellent transport systems though – almost as impressive as those in Holland.

Wilt

Quangoland  is a fairytale place of wonder, where all the folk are very well paid, get loads of holidays and wonderful benefits. The structure of its governance means that as a free state within a state it is accountable to no one. No one is elected in Quangoland.

Its economy is based on the Robber Baron concept of extracting taxes from those who are required to pay homage to them, and a very lucrative form of piracy where the Government of the day dole out huge sums of dosh to them.

Quangolanders are having a great time. No expense spared, not accountable to anyone and they can make up rules to serve themselves. Living in Quangoland is rather good. They love nothing better than taking the piss when all around them are trying to find real work to do and find enough dosh to feed the kids.

How do the subjects of Quangoland view them? Well, it is mixed but generally the subjects (not Quangolanders but serfs of the Robber Barons) are getting rather peeved.

“Why do we need these Quango” says one serf to the other, who responds “What good have they ever done?” Regrettably this is not a Monty Python sketch, as otherwise this story could end up supporting the Quango. In the Monty Python (Life of Brian) fashion the reply would be, “They build the roads, the aqueducts the sewerage system etc., etc.” In Quangoland however the Robber Barons have actually achieved very little, if anything – if someone has an alternative view, please do speak up. It is very probable that in many cases they have actually made things worse.

The serfs of the Quango are however in a bit of a pickle. Serfs do not have a vote and the Government who appoint them have no control over them. So what are they to do, the serfs that is? Armed insurrection? No the serfs are peaceful people. Refuse to pay their Robber Barons? All that will result is that they will end up literally in chains. Complain? Who do serfs complain to? The Barons, the Government? The Barons and indeed the Government have too much invested in each other, so what is the point. Try reasoned argument? That assumes the Quango or the Government are reasonable, and there appears little evidence of that.

Poke fun at them? Insult them? Prove that they are a ‘spot on the landscape’ (Note the Wilt connection)? YES, now that might help, if only to allow us poor serfs to have a bit of a laugh and prove we are intellectually superior to the Robber Barons of Quangoland.

A recent article to ponder over:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/8198105.stm

and here:

http://bjsw.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/bcn136

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/08/gscc-draconian/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/gscc-in-chaos/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/gscc-not-being-transparent/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/07/quango-review/

and here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/06/the-care-standards-tribunal/

and finally, here:

http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2009/05/gscc/

Wilt

Rumours are emerging that the SSSC have made, um, lets call it a cock up put down to human error.

PTRL doucuments relating to two social workers got mixed up and posted to the wrong worker i.e put one persons documents in an envelope addressed to the other. They each contain confidental (although anonymous) details of service users and others. Oooops!!

Now Wilt is less familiar with the SSSC and until I look a little more into their general performance I will not tar them with the same brush as the GSCC. If however it was a social worker who sent out confidental details to the wrong person, what might happen to them. I would suspect a conduct hearing cos the GSCC do like to add notches on the handle of their cosh. It makes them feel better! So what will happen to that SSSC officer, one wonders? Will they face discipline? Mmmmmm. We do know the GSCC have taken conduct action on poor record keeping on the part of some social workers already disciplined by their employer – why do they need to take further action? Notches, lots of them – that is the motive.

What would Wilt do? Well, it just goes to show that we are all human and can make mistakes. Proportionality is the key. Wilt would send the SSSC a letter stating that the error is logged, is concerned but hope that the SSSC would be equally be understanding and ask that all concerned learn from their mistakes. Oh, and that perhaps they will understand how sometimes pressure of work forces errors on occasions. Then he would hang on to that letter and produce it as evidence if he ever made a similar error and was faced with a conduct complaint!

Wilt