Incompetent Social Workers

[modeller]

Maybe all those ABs who rushed to defend the Social Workers when I asked in Feb. whether SWs were
naive or incompetent , would now like to defend them again . A father made his 2 daughters pregnant on 18 occassions . The SWs and the pollce were repeatedly told what was happening but failed to take action . The girls' brother reported it in 1997, and several hundred SWs have been involved . What do you call it , if its not incompetence ?

[sara3]

yes, those involved failed terribly.

but that's not the case for all Social Workers. are there reports available of all the good work they do/ lives saved, etc?

no? I thought not.

[joggerjayne]

"Incompetent Social Workers"

A tautology, if ever there was one !

[sara3]

of course. but would you do it for what they're paid? I wouldn't. they're under-staffed, over-worked and made public scape-goats when there has been a failing. and they are expected to be mind-readers, or have some kind of 6th sense most of the time.

my 16 year old daughter expressed an interest in Social Work as a career. I hope I've put her off.

what a shame. she'd probably have been fantastic.

[B00]

Without knowing the full story, it's very easy of me to say that yes, in this instance the SW's were VERY incompetant!

However, id like to think that the vast majority of them are competent, and care vastly about their job and the children in their care. I have to, the alternative is too horrible to think about.

What do you suggest as an alternative to SW's then modeller?

[ummmm]

Have you got a link to the story?

[Riss]

I do not know of the case,do you have a link?Socail workers do fail miserably at times,then there is an enquiry and it all goes around a gain.What is the answer?

[sara3]

I'll get in with a link before modeller gets excited..

http://uk.news.yahoo....y-father-6323e80.html

[poodicat]

Its really difficult to recruit social workers and i can see why,you can never win in some peoples eyes,my brother in law was one and he loved his job but the publics view of them was draining him

[B00]

In that news story (thanks sara) there was no mention of a mum?

[Riss]

Just read Sara's link,at least they got an "unreserved apology",well that's alright then,that makes up for it all.

[modeller]

sara They were not expected to be mind readers. There were written reports from 26 separate agencies, as well as interviews with neighbours. What more do you want ?
As for a 6th sense I would say common sense is what is lacking.

[B00]

You didn't answer the question modeller, what do you suggest instead of social workers then?

[sara3]

what more do I want? is it my shout then?

[jackthehat]

The father also moved them 67 times............that's 67 !!
Can you imagine how many cracks that would have created for information to slip through ?

There has been a reporting restriction on this case so that the children fathered by this individual aren't identified, therefore some of the 'facts' surrounding this case are not available to the rest of the country (not that, as recent behaviour shows, many folks need evidence before making their judgements) and nor should they.

Whether the SW were incompetent, or whether they had rings run round them by a devious and dangerous man is the real question.

[ummmm]

The latter I would say.

[modeller]

Boo You seem rather keen to change the subject, I wonder why . We are dealing with the situation as it is . What is happening . Why it repeatedly happens.
Your question " What is the alternative to the SWs " is a red herring as we all know the answer : There isn't one . We need and will always need SWs same as we need all services, but is that need an excuse for bad service. I have no doubt many of those people concerned do " care vastly about their work " but if they fail the very people they are supposed to be protecting then something is radically wrong.

[ummmm]

Did you read Jacks answer?

[modeller]

sara You asked about their salaries which is not relevant to their competence, but you seem to imply that it may be. Well if you wish to know their starting salaries are
£24k--£30k and senior people who have worked for 10 years + are on £57k based on a 37hr week .

[ummmm]

37 hour week is what it might state...doesn't mean it's reality.