Social workers ‘feared what Ofsted would find’ before damning child protection service report (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Social workers ‘feared what Ofsted would find’ before damning child protection service report
7:40pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News By Bill Tanner
A SENIOR social worker has told the Hereford Times that a highly critical Ofsted report into Herefordshire Council’s child protection practice came as “no major surprise” on the frontline where staff are struggling to work within legal guidelines.
The social worker, who spoke out on the condition of anonymity, said staff - often consisting of newly qualified or agency appointments – felt undermined by both management and available resources amid a culture of criticism.
They voiced concern over staff turnover and claimed complex caseloads pass from worker to worker with no continuity for families and children.
Read this week's Hereford Times (out October 25) for the full interview.
Six months to change
Ofsted carryed out a snap inspection of Herefordshire's child protection services last month.
Their following report specifically cites “systematic failures” in areas such as management oversight, decision making and performance management.
Ofsted inspectors saw a significant number of cases where managers made
poor decisions in respect of ensuring children were protected from harm or
neglect.
Jo Davidson, director for people’s services, and Councillor Patricia Morgan, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said they were disappointed with the report but accepted its findings.
The council will now work to an initial six-month-improvement plan to bring its child safeguarding procedures up to standard.
Comments(10)
WYSIATI
says...
2:33am Sun 28 Oct 12
Candi Date
says...
9:55am Sun 28 Oct 12
bobby47
says...
12:03pm Sun 28 Oct 12
The problem with all public service bodies is that during the last decade they have become obsessed with the message. The spin. The corporate song and a slide toward promoting people who are operationally lightweight.
The troops on the frontline who are superb within their role are rarely considered to be management material simply because they see things through our eyes and say it as it is.
The current trend of management do things in an entirely different way. They speak in a language not meant to be understood. They deliver the message by cascading down emails and documents to note and they distance themselves from any hands on activity.
The troops on the frontline would say that this critical report was to be expected because they see it the way it really is. The management on the other hand see things differently.
They will be of the view that its all a huge surprise.
The reality is the managers and the front line troops are disconnected by two very different approaches to their job and two very different conclusions to how well or bad things are going.
The frontline staff would say,'we just want to make lives better for kids'.
The management would say,' We are passionate about these issues and are driven to deliver a better outcome for our clients'.
My very warmest regards to you.
WYSIATI
says...
6:11pm Sun 28 Oct 12
In this part of the council (and others) find those that focus on doing what the customers need, not responding to the latest soundbite, Govt spending cut, web post or newspaper attention grab it's more important than any of that.
I know I couldn't do the job, I know I wouldn't want to have to juggle spending cuts with decisions about kids' lives and all the time waiting to be publicly hung out to dry.
You couldn't pay me enough to take that on - far easier to work in the bank, be a lawyer, doctor, fund manager, dare I say it, politician, writer, commentator and earn incomparably more money with none of the downside.
bobby47
says...
8:10pm Sun 28 Oct 12
My best regards to you.
GDJ
says...
10:36pm Sun 28 Oct 12
bobby47 wrote:An excellent post - thank you Bobby47
WYSIATI, Probably not my friend. I should have incorporated the word 'few'.
The problem with all public service bodies is that during the last decade they have become obsessed with the message. The spin. The corporate song and a slide toward promoting people who are operationally lightweight.
The troops on the frontline who are superb within their role are rarely considered to be management material simply because they see things through our eyes and say it as it is.
The current trend of management do things in an entirely different way. They speak in a language not meant to be understood. They deliver the message by cascading down emails and documents to note and they distance themselves from any hands on activity.
The troops on the frontline would say that this critical report was to be expected because they see it the way it really is. The management on the other hand see things differently.
They will be of the view that its all a huge surprise.
The reality is the managers and the front line troops are disconnected by two very different approaches to their job and two very different conclusions to how well or bad things are going.
The frontline staff would say,'we just want to make lives better for kids'.
The management would say,' We are passionate about these issues and are driven to deliver a better outcome for our clients'.
My very warmest regards to you.
Another aspect of top management approach can be found by googling 07305709.
What could it have been for?
TwoWheelsGood
says...
11:41pm Sun 28 Oct 12
GDJ
says...
4:55pm Tue 30 Oct 12
TwoWheelsGood wrote:Possibly,
That company has been dissolved - it must have been too hard out here in the real world - refuge was then sought once again amongst Common Purpose colleagues in public service.
We'll never know as the annual return wasn't filed 5 or 6 months ago when it was due. You'd have expected better leadership and management than to have forgotten something like that.
The company was struck off/dissolved last week.
Racking my brains to think of a reason that a very highly paid person working entirely in the public sector should need their own company.
Ubique5740
says...
8:31pm Sun 18 Nov 12
"Suspensions in council case probe.
A number of members of staff at Cardiff Council are suspended after a performance audit of its children's services department."
One could ask why in Cardiff and not HCC.
bobby47 says...
8:22pm Sat 27 Oct 12
How on earth are you supposed to do your job well, enjoy it and be happy and confident within that service when you feel undermined and you know that the gaffer is showering you with criticism.
This is the problem when you promote people who have no common sense but are overloaded with buzz words, management speak and degrees that mask the fact that this person is an operational lightweight. An incompetent bungling idiot who's only purpose is to attend meetings and crawl their way to the top of the ladder.
I gotta stop moaning. I'll taken another tablet.