Okay, so I think we have got the message that Social Workers have a difficult job - we get you - but you know that when you become one and if you can't do your job properly - resign!

[thenewme]

Your job is to protect children, not to be best mates with the parents.

I am just so sick of hearing how hard their jobs are like that is an excuse for the fact that yet another child was under their "care" and they failed them.

Nothing has changed in decades and I doubt it ever will.

Re op, I wonder why you feel so strongly that things won't change?

I bet if the private sector took over SW it would be run so much better

I wonder why there is a shortage of social workers. hmmmm

SWs cannot shoulder blame for people being stupid, feckless and inadequate.

If you are told that your main aim is to keep a child in the family home then that's what you'll do. I don't agree, but you can't criticize someone for doing what they're employed to do.

Issues of understaffing, terrible interagency communication and some incompetent individuals need to be dealt with. At a political level decisions need to be made about funding and making it easier for SW to do their jobs.

OP you are only seeing the black and white areas. Social workers are bound by law and policy. They can't just go around sticking their necks on the line. Laws are there to be followed. You don't like it, lobby to change the law

It's not social workers' faults they are overworked. Noone wants to go into the job. And with people around with opinions like yours, are you surprised? It's like a bloody witch hunt.

And FWIW, I did two years of training towards becoming a social worker. I left before completing my degree as I didn't feel I could work under such strict limitations. And I also had depression at the time. You seriously want everyone who goes off work with depression to resign? Wow I'd love to see what that would do to the economy! And also to the poor children. there's not going to be enough SWs to fill those spaces.

There is such a culture of scapegoating around SWs. How exactly is it their fault? They didn't abuse a child, kidnap a child, kill a child. They are doing their best in a pretty shitty job. I admit they're not all perfect but please look at the bigger picture.

Just to add after reading OP again. A lot has changed in the past few decades. New laws have been passed in an attempt to protect vulnerable children and adults. The care system is a LOT better than it used to be. IMO, however hard SWs work, child abuse will never be completely eradicated. There are some bad people out there and not all can be stopped. That's like assuming murder, rape and other crimes can also be completely wiped out. Short of zombifying the nation, it's just not possible.

Just back in and catching up with the posts.

DoubleBluff It isn't a witch hunt. And I have emailed my local ss to ask about becoming a SW actually and was sent a very curt email saying "you need a degree." I know I could do a better job than some of the current SW. Not misinformed either.

IAteMakkaPakka not naive or stupid or any of the other words you have used to describe me. I have first hand experience of SW and are totally entitled to say what I think and knwo it to be true.

pgwithnumber3 I never said it was an easy job., I think we know it isn't. But if you can't protect the children - stop doing it!

fluffles so you would rather have crap SW than none?

beanieb I make my own judgements thank you and I am not influenced by the media. I posted as I was sick of hearing yet again how hard their jobs are as if it was an excuse for them being rubbish at what they do. No, they shouldn't be left on the register if they are not at risk but don't take them off until you are totaly suire they are being properly and lovingly looked after.

abraid I am talking about the SW who ARE NOT good at their jobs. I would sincerely hope that there were good ones out there, I have met one in my whole life.

pointydog I feel things won't change as they haven't changed in the last 36 years. Same "mistakes" are still being made.

CharChar I will certainly look into campaining to change the law if the Government is the one making things difficult for SW to protect vunerable children. I refuse to accept that is 100% of the problem. I do look at the bigger picture. I have lived the bigger picture. I am living the bigger picture.

If SW felt a child was at risk then they should go as high up as necessary to get the child safe, whatever the policies are.

CharChar I still say that not enough has changed.

As a foster mum I see it from both sides. I've had to deal with totally useless social workers as well as some of the most wonderful caring ones who don't rest until they've done all they can for the child.

I've also worked with parents who know how to use the system to their advantage and others so desparate to be with their children they jump through whatever hoops they are asked to.

Its not a black and white area by any means.

I agree with the poster who said that social workers should be able to go over their seniors head if they have concerns that aren't being addressed, at the moment though, the red tape and copious amounts of paperwork are stifling the system.

Sadly I know I will always have more children to care for.

that you would need a degree to practise as a social worker Because obviously knowledge of law and practice are irrelevant.

Social worker goes as high up as necessary, they lose their job. One less social worker to look after children. Why can't you see they're doing their best? I knew a social worker who had 60 cases on her desk at one time. 60 cases of vulnerable children. They are not superheroes. They are people doing their job to the best of their ability. You forget the children that are not in the news. The children and parents who are helped and are able to improve their lives. The children who are taken into care and go on to live safer and happier lives. But no, we wouldn't want to think of them would we? Then we'd actually have to give SWs some credit

I maintain that it is a witch hunt.

It is not a witch hunt.

I would love to hear of good stories but sadly that doesn't make the news.

I would love to give credit to a seocial worked who I have had experience of who has done a good job.

Unlike some of you who are attacking me, I have to live with the consequences of SW not doing their jobs and it saddens me to see the same rubbish happening again and again.

A friend who is a social worker, she specialises in children with disabilities, has such a heavy case load she cannot do her job in the way she would like. She took a day of annual leave last week and spent that doing a child protection interview. She says that she is so weighed down with admin that she isn't able to do the amount of home visits she would like to. She says sometimes you get the feeling that something isn't quite right but as many of her children cannot speak it's difficult to get any evidence of abuse. If they accommodate a child she has three huge ring binders full of forms to complete before they can do this on top of everything else she has to do. There is a chronic staff shortage.
There was a brilliant interview with an anonymous social worker in the Guardian's Society section a few weeks ago which might shed some light on social workers' situations.

Agree with that Flower. The amount of paperwork that needs to be done is ridiculous. Even in the job I worked in prior to having DD, which was a low-paid job in the care sector which you didn't need qualifications for, the paperwork was horrific. Absolutely mountains of it. As well as jumping through the hoops of SWs, CPNs, doctors and other professionals.

There will always be people in a job who are fab at it, and people who are rubbish. It's the case with all jobs. And due to the extreme shortage of SWs, they are not being massively picky with who they accept onto the degree course. Which of course may perpetuate the problems. Though most of the bad social workers I have met have been near retirement. Therefore their training is out of date and attitudes very different to new social workers.

Well then let's start a campaign to change the policies and red tape that is stopping the SW doing their jobs properly.

I would like to see the paper work to see what is the reason why SW leave chidren in an abusive or unsafe home, even after numerous visits.

I'm sorry you have had bad experience of social services thenewme But you can't tar all with the same brush.

The reason stories of good SWs do not make the news is because it's just not good news. There's nothing for the masses to get angry about, so it's of no interest. It's a shame, really.

I am not tarring everyone but how many more Victoria Climbie's, Baby P's and Shannon's do there have to be to be a complete over haul of how SS are run?

Crikey. This thread reminds me of those that call for enforced sterilisation,an eye for an eye and such like schools of thought.

Most of us, thankfully, have no idea what it's like to walk a mile in the shoes of a Haringey or Kirk-Lees Social Worker. And you have the priviledge of hindsight and the comfort of your own homes to in order to judge them.

Nope - haven't read anything except the OP - I am not a SW but am someone who works with families that live chaotic and scary lifestyles. I have to say having suspicions is one thing - getting the proof you need to go to court and actually get a child out is a whole other matter.
In the case of Shannon Matthews she had been drugged for months - can you imagine what would happen if SWs suddenly started saying "we are testing children for drugs". The Daily Mail would be up in arms .... and dare I say it so would the majority of posters here.
Read the Executive Summary of the Serious Case Review for Baby P - it's scary stuff. Social workers WANTED that baby removed but because the police had not enough evidence to prosecute anyone for his non-accidental injuries their legal advisors over-ruled them and the baby was returned to a family which ultimately murdered him.

At the end of the day the culpable people are those who abuse - not the poor overworked sods trying to monitor what is going on with limited time, resources and no back up. By the way if all SWs who "couldn't do their job" resigned there would not be a SW anywhere in the country - I defy any SW to sit on here saying they have enough time and resources to effectively do their job.

Judge them I bloody well will.

They have had numerous chances to save children and have been too stupid to do it,
Asking VC what she wanted (go home) in front of her abusing aunt (meaning go back to her home country.) Why not the sense to have the child with a chaparone instead of the vicious aunt whom VC was too scared to speak about in front of her?

Common sense would go a long way.

Interesting thread and helpful to hear from so many people working in and around SS.

May I ask why SWs are not shouting from the rooftops about the state of their profession and the circumstances in which they are being asked to work? If things are so terrible, why aren't people putting pressure on the bosses - and I mean all the way up to ministers - to act?

Are they just all ground down so far they can't see what's wrong any more, or don't believe it's possible to make things change?

Yes, the SW told me he can't be responsible for what the foster father did to me - NO but if you had done your jobn right I wouldn't have been there in the first place.

I am in a very small minority and I stand by what I have said but I don't want to post anymore personal stuff as it won't change anyones opinion and just causes me upset.

Good night.

Fabulous post edam.

I think it's the legislation and funding that need changing- both government remits.

Imo, too much emphasis on keeping children within the family and not judging poor parenting. The bottom line, especially for the youngest children, is safety first. This means more, and much better paid, emergency and long term foster carers (like the wonderful Flower3545). That way the children are kept safe, whilst the birth parents are monitored and have to prove that they have improved.

I think there need to be more social workers, more child protection lawyers and obviously better pay. Social workers should also have police protection when entering dodgy homes, both to help their confidence and for a second opinion. Gordon Brown says he wants to pay our way out of recession and this is one area where he can put this into practice.