re social workers on the same side as service users? Well of course they are – what a silly question except… at
the launch of The College in January it was acknowledged that many service users are actually frightened of their social worker. This is also the message we receive from
many of the callers to our information line on direct payments and personal budgets. Being wary of the social
a reassessment and unfortunately although we all know your needs have not changed, and increased if anything, we will be cutting your funding…’ The changes in community care that
There are bound to be tensions in
worker is well understood in work with families and children. There are bound to be tensions in situations where the needs of the child have to be protected. In adult social care this fear factor is less expected. It is unfortunate that in recent years the social worker has had to be the bringer of bad news to the service user. ‘We have undertaken
situations where the needs of the child have to be protected
were introduced in 1993 were never meant to be like this. The idea was that the money management was separate to identifying the need, but lack of resources led to it all being wrapped up together. If we are to end the fear
and establish mutually benefi cial relationships
between social workers and service users, we have to let social workers be social workers not budget managers.
Sue Bott is director of development, Disability Rights UK
Social workers offer their practice highlights of the month
Victoria Hart mental health social worker
Walking away from someone’s
house after discharging them and knowing inside that they were going to be just fi ne without my input and involvement.
The less someone
needs me around the happier I am. This was one of those happy occasions.
Dan Mushens social work student
I visited a local community
resource centre enquiring if the duty social worker had ten minutes free so I could pick his brains. I was grateful not only to get an hour of his time there and then, but to also be offered a shadow shift the following week.
Jemma Fordham child protection practice leader
I was impressed in a meeting
between birth parents and adopters by their bravery and dignity in making this diffi cult and emotional exchange work. A truly humbling experience and a stark reminder that working relationships can be forged when all have the child’s best interests at heart.