that social workers in future would spend less time gatekeeping and more on community development approaches. With resources ever- more limited and eligibility criteria rising, how will social workers be able to fi nd time to fulfi l this aspiration? Community development work is one of
C
social work’s longest established – if neglected – strengths, and there are areas already reintroducing it, despite hard times. Walsall has a dedicated community social
work team with an open door for any potentially vulnerable person, whether or not they are eligible under Fair Access to Care Services. Derby is introducing local area co-ordinators
with access to small sums of money and remit to help people to fi nd non-service ways of living a good life, with links into other agencies when services are the only option. Leeds has seconded social
workers into three of its 39 neighbourhood networks, which will experiment with bringing together personal budget holders and community groups to plan more cost-eff ective services and more inclusive communities. These approaches may be
Community development
work is one of social work’s longest established – if neglected – strengths
delivered by social workers within third sector agencies rather than council employees and they can involve informal and unqualifi ed (or diff erently qualifi ed) workers. But they also have the potential to use the skills of qualifi ed social workers in new ways, particularly in helping people with complex needs to construct an integrated package of care, become less isolated and fi nd ways to contribute to their community. This is a new twist on personalisation. Even
perfectly tailored services do not always add up to a good life. Full citizenship comes when we are enabled to connect with others and to contribute to community life, as well as the right to have our own needs met.
Alex Fox is chief executive offi cer of Shared Lives Plus 6 SOCIALWORKMATTERS MAY12
are services minister Paul Burstow recently told members of The College of Social Work
BLOGLOG
CONTENTS Thoughts from the College blog
Essentially Mr Cameron wants local authorities to
identify ‘chaotic families’ and change their behaviours through multi-agency working. I would suggest that if these families have been identifi ed as ‘chaotic’ then the interventions have not come early enough. Furthermore, the idea feels like a somewhat punitive response.... AMY NORRIS
Totally agree with the above. I have two months left of uni
before I graduate and I would like to work within a progressive social work team and not one stuck within the status quo.
CARLOS
Come on - let’s return to social work proper - HELPING communities, families and individuals, NOT investigating criminal activity (that’s what child abuse is after all) and taking forensic actions.
MIKE LLYWELYN COX
Personalisation promised to move towards a ‘different type of care planning and care management,’ but these words ring a little bit hollow in my ears as I try to negotiate another 30 minute breakfast visit for Mrs Jones and wonder what personalisation means for her and for the people like her, who do not wish to take up a direct payment however positively it is ‘sold’ to them.
Personalisation is all very well but the budgets are still
not adequate and the funding panels are still over-riding social worker’s assessments in support of their service users’ wishes for certain services.