Protecting Our Children

Oh yes, and very high status it is too.

And so it should be. When I was on teaching practice, 50 years ago, I was left to take charge of what was then called a 'remedial' class - all very nice kids, but I thought then that anyone who took responsibility for pupils with learning difficulties deserved recognition which they were not given.

It takes time Annobel, but they got there in the end.

Mishap - Unfortunately I think Social Work training is still the same. There is still an enormous emphasis on 'anti-discriminatory practice' at the expense of all else. Even this only seems to include race and gender issues; there does not seem to be much awareness of disability (in Children's Services anyway) and none at all of class. Maybe this is why many newly qualified Social Workers seem unable to relate to most of their clients (not allowed to call them that any more).

Don't even get me started on literacy! As Carol points out, Social Workers need to be able to produce reports to a very high standard and yet many of the reports I see now are indecipherable, with random spellings and no apparent rules of grammar. The meaning of the report is often completely lost, if indeed it ever had one. Social Workers cannot then expect to be taken seriously as professionals or as advocates for the families or children they work with. I find it mystifying that these people have achieved a degree whereas standards seemed so much higher when there was a diploma route. And yes it is still virtually impossible to fail a student, whatever the quality of their practice. I took the decision a few years ago that I would no longer take students as I found the whole process a farce.

I also agree with Greatnan about observing contact; when I used to do this I would try to get involved and try to put the parents and children at ease, before backing off and allowing them to enjoy the time together, stepping in when necessary. It is still possible to observe and assess but not usually necessary to make contemporaneous notes. These days however contact is usually supervised by 'Contact Workers; unqualified staff who have to report back to the Social Worker so they do tend to sit taking notes. It seems to me that Social Workers have relinquished so many of their roles because they should be 'doing the important things' (that's a direct quote from my Service Manager by the way) that we have all forgotten what the important things really are.

The thing that amazes me is sw ignorance of the benefit system. This can be of vital importance to their customers and make all the difference to their lives.
Why are they not taught at least a minimum. I have in the past given talks to various people about dla, but only once to social workers

Says it all really jeni. Yet another 'unimportant thing' SW's don't do; now they refer people to Welfare Rights advisors instead. I am still employed as a Social Worker but even I don't know what we do any more.