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Social Workers - Anyone else fed up with them?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Having fostered through an agency in London for a number of years I have been shocked at the disregard for both carers, who do rewarding and worthwhile work, and birth families, who suffer unnecessarily and sometimes horribly. Social workers are lazy, incompetent and frequently spiteful but the real problem is they are completely unaccountable.

They do not have to defend their words or actions. When you make an FOI request the results are completely inadequate. Accurate records are not kept. Explanations are not given. They hide behind the "confidentiality" issue that is supposed the benefit he children not the professionals. Even the language used - they are always the "professionals" and everyone should respect and abide by their opinions and decisions - is defensive. Actually they are, for the large part, only professional in that they receive pay & benefits.

The Harringey attitude "its not my responsibility" is endemic and when they are called upon to appear in court they simply accept the court's decision and do not justify past behaviour. The outcomes for looked after children are a national disgrace and nothing is being done about it. At least the austerity programme is going to benefit the poor people on the receiving end of this incompetence.

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Fascinating.

    Easy to bitch, especially when you've joined this board that purpose alone. Harder to offer solutions.

    What do you suggest? We're all ears.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have dealings with social care all the time. I can't comment on the systems in other areas, all I can say here is they are quite useless. To the extent that they think leaving a child in a crack den that is laced with booby traps to keep out a rival drug dealer is acceptable.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    This is a very emotional subject for those involved. Someone asked what can be done. It is a difficult but not impossible situation to address. Unfortunately there is no political will to deal with it. What is really required is a top down shake up of the system overseen by people who are not social workers or imbued with the ethos of Childrens Services departments. Something like this happens on a micro level when there is an enquiry into the latest tragedy/debacle.

    The Judiciary conducts a review. The local authority shortcomings are held up for all to see, some social workers directly involved either get the sack or are re-employed working with the elderly or disabled, the politicians wring their hands, new ways of checking are introduced and then it happens again because the ethos of the authority have not changed.

    It is important that social workers are not scared to take responsibility. I would be interested in hearing from social workers themselves. Occasionally their relatives write to say how stressed out they are and what a wonderful job they do but the truth is placements go unsupported or silly suggestions are made as to the children's social activities. Most social workers want carers to arrange for the children to attend scouts, cubs ,brownies, swimming club so they can tick a box. Many children are not interested in structured activities and their unbringing, in some cases, has not prepared them very well for such activities.

    I suspect we are going to be stuck with the current arrangements - with the occasional bit of tweaking - until the Lord comes again. Then there will be some questions to be answered.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    They get all their emotions removed at Social Worker College too, you know. It's the ethos, innit.

    :rolleyes:

    Come back when you've stopped spouting bollocks because a social worker was mean to you once.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Do you actually *know* any social workers, in a social context I mean?

    Seriously, you should sit down and talk to them sometimes about their job, the rules they have to follow, what they are (and aren't) allowed to do. You should also find out how many of them bear the scars of what they have seen and been involved with over the years. Perhaps you should ask them what their caseload is like and how many cases they simply do not have the physical time to investigate fully, ask yourself who is responsible for staffing levels - the workers or the politicians.

    You seem to think that they are automatons with zero emotion. The reality is usually the complete opposite. Have you ever asked yourself *why* they chose that profession?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    When I was leaving care I spent a lot of time talking to social workers that i dealt with about what they could do to help me and the number of times they would tell me they couldn't because of the lack of resources and the law was crazy.

    I'm not saying I had a great service, heck I've had to make complaints about being passed from pillar to post (and the worst service I got was from foster agency social workers), and the lack of basic things (like no life story work, which is meant to be mandatory).

    But I can see that the majority do their best and are totally overstretched. By all means weed out the negligent workers but don't tar them all with the same brush.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi,

    I was in care my self since i was 7 years old i left care and went back home to my moms and dad, thinks started to get relly bad for me and i was not able to cope and my silly social worker put me in a 2 bed flat on my own ware i could not fed for my self cos of this i self harmed a lot by taking overdoses on my meds - then i was moved into supported living i find it a lot better hear. I am know 21 and don't have a social worker Thank God,

    In some cases i do not Agree that social workers take some children or young people Seriously - social workers need to think before they do thinks ie will this be the right thing for this child or young person.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hacked Off wrote: »
    Having fostered through an agency in London for a number of years I have been shocked at the disregard for both carers, who do rewarding and worthwhile work, and birth families, who suffer unnecessarily and sometimes horribly. Social workers are lazy, incompetent and frequently spiteful but the real problem is they are completely unaccountable.

    They do not have to defend their words or actions. When you make an FOI request the results are completely inadequate. Accurate records are not kept. Explanations are not given. They hide behind the "confidentiality" issue that is supposed the benefit he children not the professionals. Even the language used - they are always the "professionals" and everyone should respect and abide by their opinions and decisions - is defensive. Actually they are, for the large part, only professional in that they receive pay & benefits.

    The Harringey attitude "its not my responsibility" is endemic and when they are called upon to appear in court they simply accept the court's decision and do not justify past behaviour. The outcomes for looked after children are a national disgrace and nothing is being done about it. At least the austerity programme is going to benefit the poor people on the receiving end of this incompetence.


    I've worked with SW'ers from all areas of social-work over many years, and I've never found any of them to fit the descriptions you have posted.

    To say that they are not accountable is to show absolutely no understanding of the care system, or of the role of social-workers in it, which if in disrepute, has more to do with the politicians who mess with it than the social-work personnel that work in the system.

    You mention the Haringey case that hit the headlines and saw SW’s made scapegoats for the fallibility of the child protection system, and again, you show no understanding of the issues involved. There is no such thing as absolute protection for any child at risk other than removing them from their family situation at the first sign of concern.

    The very great majority of CPR cases handled by SSDs produce positive outcomes for the children involved, and they stay with their families.

    The way the Haringey case was dramatised and distorted by the media, in part to fit with a political agenda, has done untold damage to the child protection system by causing many very experienced and competent SW’ers to leave child care and move to other areas of SW. Which has led to many LA’s having a shortage of SW’ers, and having to rely more on Agency SW’ers, who not only cost a lot more, they often lack knowledge of the local communities they work in, which can mean they don’t have the invaluable information required to spot early signs of risk. Also, having newly trained and inexperienced SW’ers in such positions just adds to the problems.

    Your post reads like an angry rant, and no doubt you have your own personal agenda fuelling the distain you show for SW’ers.

    If you are actually a Foster Carer, then I find that somewhat worrying.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The thread that I started was concerned with social workers not supporting and not being sympathic to foster placements. I have worked with many social workers in this area but have almost no exposure to cases of extreme neglect. Where extreme neglect or cruelty occurs as in the Harringey case it is the responsibility of social workers (not politicians or foster carers) to step in and take appropriate action. In the Harringey case SW's were not scapegoats they were the people who did not meet their responsibilities and were sacked. The LA had done something virtually identical with the Climbie case a few years earlier. Neither you nor I know whether the exodus of experienced SWs from the profession (if that is what happened) was because of a lack of support or because they knew the shit was going to hit the fan and they wanted to be out of range. I am sure each individual that did leave had their own reasons.

    My reference to Harringey was with regards to the attitude of the local authority. As if what happens in Harringey social care has nothing to do with those who run it. My submission was not an angry rant but a considered expression of my own experience of what happens when the SW's views are challenged to the degree they are asked to do something they don't want to do. Something simply for example like providing respite.

    The reason the majority of CPRs result in children staying with their families - after the family has been put through an unpleasant investigative experience - is because the family were either looking after the children sufficiently or because a small amount of additional support was required. I agree this is a positive outcome. However what happens when the children are removed from home pending investigations? Shouldn't there be support provided there?

    No matter what your views of SWs no one can deny that the outcomes for LAC in the UK are appalling. If you think that has more to do with politicians than with people on the ground actually doing the work then you are simply deluded. My view is that politicians have at least started to recognise that things need to be done and the SWs workload is being lightened considerably as a result. Hopefully that will improve things otherwise they are running out of excuses.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Outcomes in the UK for LAC might not be fantastic (for instance, I should have been given a lot more help with my mental health and support with uni), but I think in comparison to those in other countries its pretty good. Its very difficult for SW to perform their legal obligations, let alone working as "corporate parents". In my experience the use of personal keyworkers (who worked for a charity and only had 3-5 people on their books, and spent at least an hour a week of contact time with that young person) was what got me to a really good place. I really do wish that had continued because I think I'd be in a much better place than I am now, but its difficult when there just aren't the resources. Yes, better frame works could be put in place, funding sources restructured, etc but its very difficult to turn around the lives of neglected, abused, vunerable and basically damaged children and have the end result be a 100% fully functioning adult. There are always going to be those who fall through the gaps and I don't know asides putting more money into keyworkers for older LAC and better training (and vetting IME) of foster carers for younger LAC, I doubt theres much more they can do.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You make some excellent points and I would agree with virtually 100% of them. I was not really writing about turning damaged people into fully functioning adults (that is way beyond a foster carers abilities - providing a safe and secure environment for the child is the key thing). I was more concerned with support for fostering placements when things become strained - as they usually do!

    The keyworkers idea seems to have been a good one but wasn't this service provided outside of the LAs? By companies who would be looking to make a profit? Shouldn't LAs be doing this sort of thing themselves? The LA is the corporate parent where LAC are concerned and does need to meet the requirements in that regard.

    I am afraid I do have it in for SWs to a degree as my experience of them over a number of years has been less than edifying. There are some that are good of course (I have met a few) but when you are given notes that exclude huge sections of a child's criminal record, when FOI requests show the LA are not keeping basic records, when box ticking passes for responsibility, then you know that, as a carer you are up against it.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hacked Off wrote: »
    The thread that I started was concerned with social workers not supporting and not being sympathic to foster placements. I have worked with many social workers in this area but have almost no exposure to cases of extreme neglect. Where extreme neglect or cruelty occurs as in the Harringey case it is the responsibility of social workers (not politicians or foster carers) to step in and take appropriate action. In the Harringey case SW's were not scapegoats they were the people who did not meet their responsibilities and were sacked. The LA had done something virtually identical with the Climbie case a few years earlier. Neither you nor I know whether the exodus of experienced SWs from the profession (if that is what happened) was because of a lack of support or because they knew the shit was going to hit the fan and they wanted to be out of range. I am sure each individual that did leave had their own reasons.

    My reference to Harringey was with regards to the attitude of the local authority. As if what happens in Harringey social care has nothing to do with those who run it. My submission was not an angry rant but a considered expression of my own experience of what happens when the SW's views are challenged to the degree they are asked to do something they don't want to do. Something simply for example like providing respite.

    The reason the majority of CPRs result in children staying with their families - after the family has been put through an unpleasant investigative experience - is because the family were either looking after the children sufficiently or because a small amount of additional support was required. I agree this is a positive outcome. However what happens when the children are removed from home pending investigations? Shouldn't there be support provided there?

    No matter what your views of SWs no one can deny that the outcomes for LAC in the UK are appalling. If you think that has more to do with politicians than with people on the ground actually doing the work then you are simply deluded. My view is that politicians have at least started to recognise that things need to be done and the SWs workload is being lightened considerably as a result. Hopefully that will improve things otherwise they are running out of excuses.

    It appears from your post that you have an axe to grind about the lack of support you have received as a Foster Parent?

    I obviously don’t know the circumstances of such lack of support, because you don’t give the details.

    Instead of giving such details, you have launched into making a sweeping attack on SW’ers per se, including the Haringey case that hit the headlines, which had very little to do with Foster Care and related support. Foster Care and Child Protection being two separate specialisms in Social Work.

    I can’t comment on the general standards of support by SSD in relation to Foster Placements because that’s not an area I have had much involvement with, and it’s not clear whether your generalised criticisms are aimed at LA SW’ers, or those working in private agencies?

    I do have a lot of experience of risk assessment in relation to High Risk offenders considered to be dangerous to the public, which is why I have worked in conjunction with SWer’s who are required to assess risk re CPR, and I can see from your comments that you have very little knowledge of that subject, and little understanding of what is involved.

    Child Protection SWer’s work within a Statutory framework that holds them accountable in every aspect of their work. So to say that they are not accountable for what they do is nonsense.

    The Haringey manager who was pilloried by the media and used as scapegoat to draw attention away from important systemic issues re child protection has won her case for unfair dismissal, and the last I heard of her she was bringing a case for compensation against the LA that sacked her.

    What she said at the time was that she couldn’t take responsibility for providing a 100% guarantee for every child on the CPR within her area of responsibility. Which is a completely reasonable and honest statement to make.

    Knowing when to remove a child to a safe place requires making a fine and tricky judgement between the harm caused to that child by removing them from their family, and the risks of leaving the child in the situation.

    The reality is that CPSWer’s put themselves on the line every day of the week in relation to such decisions, and 99.9% of the time they get it right.

    In the case that you refer to there were certain crucial factors that were not known by the SWer’s involved.

    There was also a major and crucial failure in the medical assessment of the child involved. Had that medical assessment shown what it should have done, the SWer’s involved would have had grounds and a mandate to immediately remove the child, and the chances are that the child would still be alive today.

    Far from being the omnipotent agents that you suggest, SWer’s are required to justify their action in relation to the Statutory framework they operate within on behalf of the State, and within a Court of Law if required to – any such decisions being open to legal challenge by the parents.

    I am always amazed at the way in which the tabloid press and the rest of the media dispense with accurate and balanced reporting over an issue as important as the death of a child.

    They pander to the ignorant mentality of the mob who want to see someone strung up and hung out to dry, and in doing so they cause untold damage to the protection of children in such dire situations for the reasons I have previously mentioned.

    Because of the issues of confidentiality you claim are used by SWer’s to protect themselves, the reality is that when they are being hounded by the mob-media they are unable to defend themselves and speak out about ALL of the relevant factors involved.

    It would be ridiculous to label the whole of the medical profession as negligent over the failure of the doctor in that case to make a proper examination of the child involved, which would have shown the injuries already suffered, and which would probably have saved the child from further harm.

    To blame and scapegoat the SWer’s involved is even more ridiculous.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I do have an axe to grind about the lack of support SWs give to foster placements. I gave the example of providing respite and keeping incomplete records. Records that often omit crucial information.

    Rather like politicians seem to do you have reduced the discussion to a matter of child safety. This was never the focus of my thread but it is THE key area where SWs ARE held accountable (and is something they are motivated by - possibly (and understandably) out of fear. Elsewhere in the care service there seems to be very little accountability hence the poor record keeping. Child safety should be a given. Btw I have found the police to be a beacon of professionalism among the care services.

    The Harringey staff were not reinstated. Those who were directly responsibility for the oversights that lead to Peter Connolly's death were sacked and lost their appeals. Of course the person at the top was not directly involved in the care of this child though she was ultimately responsible for whether the systems worked. Incidentally the "system" being at fault usually just means that no one is going to carry the can. In this instance the consequences were too gross for that to be allowed to happen.

    I am pleased that CPR almost always works well. My concerns lie in other areas. There has been (for as long as I have taken an interest in it) a shortage of about 10,000 foster care places in the UK. This will continue as long as the lack of support continues. Several families at the church I attend have fostered and my own experience is supported by some of their own. There is a huge issue prompted by the politically correct about whether children should attend places of worship. In my view the energies of SWs should be directed towards doing the regular day job well.

    My beef is with both agency and LA SWs. It is often unclear to the foster carer who is saying what - for example where the care is criticised or support is not forthcoming - and both agencies and LAs can blame one another when things go awry. As the agency depends on the LAs for all it's business their hands are ultimately tied by the LAs. Agencies are also businesses that have to make a profit and may be reluctant to spend money on support activities.

    We will never get the perfect system and the role of foster carers is being recognised as crucial. As things change they are gradually getting a louder voice in the care system. Quite right given the actual day to day involvement with the children is down to them.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hacked Off wrote: »
    I do have an axe to grind about the lack of support SWs give to foster placements. I gave the example of providing respite and keeping incomplete records. Records that often omit crucial information.

    Rather like politicians seem to do you have reduced the discussion to a matter of child safety. This was never the focus of my thread but it is THE key area where SWs ARE held accountable (and is something they are motivated by - possibly (and understandably) out of fear. Elsewhere in the care service there seems to be very little accountability hence the poor record keeping. Child safety should be a given. Btw I have found the police to be a beacon of professionalism among the care services.

    The Harringey staff were not reinstated. Those who were directly responsibility for the oversights that lead to Peter Connolly's death were sacked and lost their appeals. Of course the person at the top was not directly involved in the care of this child though she was ultimately responsible for whether the systems worked. Incidentally the "system" being at fault usually just means that no one is going to carry the can. In this instance the consequences were too gross for that to be allowed to happen.

    I am pleased that CPR almost always works well. My concerns lie in other areas. There has been (for as long as I have taken an interest in it) a shortage of about 10,000 foster care places in the UK. This will continue as long as the lack of support continues. Several families at the church I attend have fostered and my own experience is supported by some of their own. There is a huge issue prompted by the politically correct about whether children should attend places of worship. In my view the energies of SWs should be directed towards doing the regular day job well.

    My beef is with both agency and LA SWs. It is often unclear to the foster carer who is saying what - for example where the care is criticised or support is not forthcoming - and both agencies and LAs can blame one another when things go awry. As the agency depends on the LAs for all it's business their hands are ultimately tied by the LAs. Agencies are also businesses that have to make a profit and may be reluctant to spend money on support activities.

    We will never get the perfect system and the role of foster carers is being recognised as crucial. As things change they are gradually getting a louder voice in the care system. Quite right given the actual day to day involvement with the children is down to them.


    I suggest you read your original post.

    In it, you say that you have acted as a Foster Parent through a London agency, and it appears that you have fallen out with them over something, of which you don’t go into the details of.

    However, it seems you feel qualified and justified in slagging off all social workers, including those involved in the Haringey case, which of course WAS about child protection.

    It seems that in order to vent your discontent with Social Services you have chosen to post on a forum used by young people, some of them being quite vulnerable, with the aim of drumming up some support for your attack on SSD.

    How very community minded of you! (sic)

    My impression from what you have posted in this forum is that you are not a suitable person to provide support and guidance to young people, some of whom who may need a stable role model capable of dealing with difficult issues calmly and rationally.

    Whatever the nature of the problems you have had with the Fostering Agency you have Fostered through, it cannot justify the way in which you have just hit out indiscriminately against the Social Work profession with such vitriol.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The case rests:

    The outcomes for LAC in the UK are poor (to put it extremely politely).
    The system that produces such poor results is staffed by social workers.
    Social workers do not adequately support foster placements by providing respite, creche facilities, adequate information, fulfilling LA responsibilities obtaining birth certificates, etc and other things. There is no way that accountability can be enforced in these areas.
    Every person who has posted on this board with experience of the care system is critical of it (even those who are sympathic and accept that there may be some restraints to the support SWs provide) with the exception of you.

    The reference to Harringey was to their attitude. That was what upset people so much causing demos at their council offices, etc. The press reported what had happened and what was said. The performances of those involved has lead to them being deemed culpable and dismissed. I actually have more sympathy (though not much more) for the inexperienced SW would lost her job over the Climbie mess. There was a medical misdiagnosis in the Baby P case and I believe the doctor is no longer practising (at least not in this country). You don't have to come to a forum like this to slag off the Harringey debacle. Everyone (except apparently you) knows that it was a disaster because several people with responsibilities for child safety messed up. Btw about 30 children a year die and many are known to social services.

    However I will once again reiterate that what happened in Harringey was not my area of concern though it seems to be yours. I trust you would be sensible enough to acknowledge (you should condemn) what happened - although you seem to be so imbued with the LA ethos that even that obvious fact seems to be beyond you. There is no point in taking the discussion any further. This thread was started months ago and only re-activated by a former victim of the care system writing in. I will let you have the last word. It would be good if you could try to see the wood from the trees.

    Stop living in a world where S
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hacked Off wrote: »
    The case rests:

    The outcomes for LAC in the UK are poor (to put it extremely politely).
    The system that produces such poor results is staffed by social workers.
    Social workers do not adequately support foster placements by providing respite, creche facilities, adequate information, fulfilling LA responsibilities obtaining birth certificates, etc and other things. There is no way that accountability can be enforced in these areas.
    Every person who has posted on this board with experience of the care system is critical of it (even those who are sympathic and accept that there may be some restraints to the support SWs provide) with the exception of you.

    The reference to Harringey was to their attitude. That was what upset people so much causing demos at their council offices, etc. The press reported what had happened and what was said. The performances of those involved has lead to them being deemed culpable and dismissed. I actually have more sympathy (though not much more) for the inexperienced SW would lost her job over the Climbie mess. There was a medical misdiagnosis in the Baby P case and I believe the doctor is no longer practising (at least not in this country). You don't have to come to a forum like this to slag off the Harringey debacle. Everyone (except apparently you) knows that it was a disaster because several people with responsibilities for child safety messed up. Btw about 30 children a year die and many are known to social services.

    However I will once again reiterate that what happened in Harringey was not my area of concern though it seems to be yours. I trust you would be sensible enough to acknowledge (you should condemn) what happened - although you seem to be so imbued with the LA ethos that even that obvious fact seems to be beyond you. There is no point in taking the discussion any further. This thread was started months ago and only re-activated by a former victim of the care system writing in. I will let you have the last word. It would be good if you could try to see the wood from the trees.

    Stop living in a world where S

    I suggest you try and get some intelligent insight into the way SSD and related systems work, instead of relying on the myths perpetuated within the media along the lines that SWer’s make it all up as they go along and are totally unaccountable.

    If you can achieve that, then try putting a letter together to your MP citing the issues that concern you re Foster care.

    I don’t doubt that there are problems, and that it should be better, but there are many reasons why it isn’t. As with most systemic issues, the finer detail is quite complex and often not revealed in the public arena.

    Perhaps you also blame all of the ills of the NHS on the doctors and nurses that work in it?

    The reality is that there is a lot more to it than picking on the people who work in systems that are not working as well as they should.

    Unfortunately, some politicians are only too happy to play along and load the blame onto staff working in the Public Services for issues they should be addressing in their role as representatives of the electorate. But write to your MP anyway, it might just be that they are an exception and will take up your case.

    BTW, thanks for allowing me to have the last word.

    :)
    Jed
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Jedimaster wrote: »
    It seems that in order to vent your discontent with Social Services you have chosen to post on a forum used by young people, some of them being quite vulnerable, with the aim of drumming up some support for your attack on SSD.

    How very community minded of you! (sic)
    Whether they intend malice as a consequence of becoming jaded from the pressures of the job, or are are just incompetent from the start, there are social workers who can and do inflict great damage on the people they are supposed to be helping. There may also be very good social workers, and it would be a shame if they were hobbled by scare stories which allowed truly terrible parents to intimidate them into backing off when they ought to be intervening. In practise, though, I think those kind of parents are given a wide birth anyway, and it's the meeker ones, who ultimately want what's best for their kids but have trouble coping at times, who are used to meet targets.

    So yes, people should arm theirselves with knowledge. If the shit should hit the fan, expect there to be a very good chance that the SW who's contacted you doesn't know her (and it usually is a 'her') arse from her elbow.

    But then, standards are dropping everywhere.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I personally wish they'd probe a bit more. my grandmother adopted me and is an angry lose cannon due to a disability. when i finally did get them to investigate, there was no confidentiality between them and I, and I was made out to be the liar. It took them five years to check on me after my first call, in the process i made over two thousand phone calls on my cell phone. (i pay my own bill, so i know). you bitch to them, they shrug it off, but heaven forbid they take and fracking initiative.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Consistency is a problem. Mental health issues in our family led to social services taking an interest in us, and along the way the school weighing in about our children sometimes being 'unkempt'. This was all resolved half a year back, but that didn't stop the local police from raking it all up again just as I was complaining about a wrongful arrest. Try to follow this: the police apparently told the social services that they had concerns, after the social services told the police that the school had reported the old stuff about unkemptness again, and that our youngest daughter was withdrawn (she'd just starred in two school plays, and been made Deputy Headgirl). All this with the coda that when I became involved with community issues, my children suffered neglect. Or, put it another way, stop rocking the boat or we'll take away your children.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    And welcome, Aislynn :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    thank you very much :) , well, her problem is mainly physical, causing mental issues, an AVM (massive brain bleed) caused her to become slightly disabled, she functions as normal, she just has abusive tendencies, as you said their consistency and timing is awful. When you need them the most, where the hell are they? other than that they're bothering the frack out of us. -.- i definitely feel where your coming from, truthfully i think they need to be more responsible and consistent.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I can't stand dealing with social services. You could have a child get its legs chopped off right in front of them and they'd still come up with some kind of supportive action plan for the parents.
    I've seen children being brought up in conditions you wouldn't subject a dog to, and social services just sitting back and doing nothing because apparently the parents are "willing to make an effort" or are "cooperating". What that means, they attend the meeting, say all the right things and then do precisely fuck all to do a better job of looking after their kids, or blame it all on someone else.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    And then you have Rochdale, and 'they make their own choices'. As with the police, the fucktards make life immeasurably harder for the people trying to do the job conscientiously, tactfully, and with a view always to defending the most vulnerable.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    All I know is

    All I know is that my social worker never picks up her phone or calls me back, for that matter. She sends me letters, though. She sent me a letter once that she had been trying to reach me, I dont know what number she was calling, cuz i always pick up my phone calls, even if it is from a private number, 800 number, local number, whatever number. She lied, she has never called me. I met with her a couple weeks ago to renew food stamps, and medi-cal. She said my medi-cal was active, so i made a doctor's appt. My husband took the day off from work so I could go to the doctor's while he watched the babies. I get there and the receptionist says I don't have medi-cal active. I called my social worker twice and still no call back. I doubt she will ever call me back. She seems to be real incompetent. I'm not saying she doesn't care, she seems nice, but extremely incompetent. I can't wait to find a job with benefits. This is the first time I've ever had to have food stamps and medi-cal in my entire life, I never realized how frustrating the entire system was until now. And as long as we are all venting, I can atleast vent too, cuz I doubt anyone who can do anything about it is willing to do anything about it. :banghead:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    justme123 wrote: »
    All I know is that my social worker never picks up her phone or calls me back, for that matter. She sends me letters, though. She sent me a letter once that she had been trying to reach me, I dont know what number she was calling, cuz i always pick up my phone calls, even if it is from a private number, 800 number, local number, whatever number. She lied, she has never called me. I met with her a couple weeks ago to renew food stamps, and medi-cal. She said my medi-cal was active, so i made a doctor's appt. My husband took the day off from work so I could go to the doctor's while he watched the babies. I get there and the receptionist says I don't have medi-cal active. I called my social worker twice and still no call back. I doubt she will ever call me back. She seems to be real incompetent. I'm not saying she doesn't care, she seems nice, but extremely incompetent. I can't wait to find a job with benefits. This is the first time I've ever had to have food stamps and medi-cal in my entire life, I never realized how frustrating the entire system was until now. And as long as we are all venting, I can atleast vent too, cuz I doubt anyone who can do anything about it is willing to do anything about it. :banghead:

    Just to point out that this is a mainly UK based advice site, so for yourself, there won't be too many of us who understand the system [I presume is] in the US very well.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    please don't tar all social workers with the same brush. I know a lady who is very hard-working and cares deeply about her clients. it is a VERY difficult and stressful job, and the social worker often has too many clients to handle. if they are doing a poor job there's a strong chance this is because of their caseload, NOT because of their own failings.

    I do think as the social worker gets older and more experienced the system slowly brings them down. they realise they cannot perhaps help people as much as they wanted when they first started, and become jaded. maybe you need a new social worker with a bit of a buzz about them.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Social Workers - Anyone else fed up with them?

    Of course, not all the workers in social security act like others. Just as not all the five fingers of our hands are equal in length. But somehpow their are a lots of defficiency in social security services and management, which needs to be rectified and correct.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hi Valter
    Just wanted to point out that this is an old thread from last year. We generally try to keep current threads active rather than pulling up old ones, as most of the time the OP - and the discussion - have moved on. Gonna close this one, but please do keep posting on newer threads - and feel free to start your own :)
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