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S O CIAL
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July ~ September 2016 issue Council spotlight
12
Discover what it is like working for Rotherham’s children’s services.
NEW S
The spotlight on your profession Male suicide
18
Hear from CALM; a charity dedicated to preventing male suicide.
Tri-borough’s success
24
Find out how two Tri-borough children’s services have been rated ‘outstanding’.
In this issue
Contents July ~ September 2016 issue.
04
News bites
08
From the frontline
Take a look at the latest social work announcements, including the Children and Social Work Bill and the inquiry into adult social care.
Read about Salford’s health and social care integration, improvements at Somerset and more, as we hear from council teams across the country.
12
Council spotlight
18
Male suicide, the silent epidemic
24
Ian Thomas, Rotherham’s Strategic Director of Children’s Services, talks about working for the council as it moves towards becoming ‘outstanding’ by 2018.
We find out from charity CALM, why men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women and what signs we should all be aware of.
Tri-borough success Clare Chamberlain, Interim Tri-borough Executive Director of Children’s Services, discusses how two of Tri-borough’s children’s services were rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
06 10
Giveaways If you were intrigued by the ‘worry eater’ featured in previous editions, you could win one, or perhaps you would like a trio of textbooks we’re giving away?
Work life Discover why one of the Social Worker of Year Award winners, Maureen Roscoe-Goulson, made the journey into social work and what continues to motivate her.
16
Are you on social media?
22
Revving up the AMHPs
26
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 02
Zoë Betts, Adult Social Worker and Owner of iamsocialwork, explores the career benefits of being on social media.
Les Konzon writes about the challenges AMHPs face and the training that is available to make sure they are up-to-date with the most recent case law.
Exploring Norway Brian Mitchell of Bradford College examines the contrasting perceptions of social work in the UK and Norway, and the impact this has on the frontline.
Sanctuary
I
t’s only been a matter of weeks since the Queen confirmed the government’s plans to speed up adoptions and I quote, “improve the standards of social work”.
Of course, any plans designed to better standards are welcome. Nobody can deny that there is a mixed picture and improvements can be made but I hope, as the Children and Social Work Bill makes its way through parliament, we do not lose sight of the realities in delivering frontline services. There’s no doubt that we are witnessing a period of unprecedented change and whilst it’s a testing time, there are examples of remarkable transformation already happening; not just in Rotherham (see Council Spotlight pg.12-13) and Tri-borough (pg.22-23), but across the country. Many local authorities are emphasising the need for good practice to be at the heart of working with people with complex needs and our new ‘From the Frontline’ feature (pg.8-9) echoes this sentiment. Success must be communicated more widely than this though. Admittedly, social
care is based on confidentiality, and ‘the media’ on the free sharing of information, but the profession needs to embrace digital communication, as guest-writer and Owner of iamsocialwork, Zoë Betts champions (pg.16-17). By engaging with our community on social media ourselves, we’ve listened to what you want to read more of and have included some new features which can be used for CPD purposes. We have also introduced a giveaway section for those interested in laying their hands on some of the latest practical tools and textbooks to hit the market (pg.6 -7). We hope you enjoy the new look and feel of Sanctuary Social Work News!
James Rook Managing Director
Visit us sanctuarysocialcare.com Follow us @SanctuarySW Like us facebook.com/sanctuarypersonnelltd See us instagram.com/sanctuary_personnel
Careers Hub
W
Explore our online careers resource.
ould you benefit from an interview preparation sheet, complete with frequently asked questions and tips to make your answers compelling? Or perhaps you would like to know how you can best use social media for professional purposes. Since the launch of Sanctuary Social Care’s Careers Hub, we have been busy adding a range of invaluable social work careers guidance, useful downloads, blogs, videos and more. Visit sanctuarysocialcare.com/ careers-hub.
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News bites
News bites Key news stories and announcements.
Law Commission reports on DoLS The Law Commission reaffirmed its commitment to reforming the law on deprivation of liberty in an interim statement that asserts “legislative change is the only satisfactory solution”.
Alistair Burt MP
The report follows the Law Commission’s consultation on deprivation of liberty which ran from 7 July until 2 November 2015 and has been published at the request of the Minister of State for Community and Social Care, Alistair Burt MP. It documents how social workers’ views on protective care resonate with social work values and good practice. There are still a number of issues though, as some believe “the idea of different tiers or levels of safeguards would be cumbersome and overly complex”. The final report and draft legislation will be published by the end of 2016.
New Children & Social Work Bill Her Majesty The Queen declared that the government would “increase life chances for the most disadvantaged”, as she announced details of the Children and Social Work Bill in her 65th Queen’s Speech.
The Queen delivers the speech
The Bill, which promised an ‘overhaul’ of social work, will see the government introduce more demanding professional standards, strengthen the rights of care leavers, speed up adoption times and set up a new specialist regulator for the profession. Controversially, the new regulator (which would replace the Health and Care Professions Council) will no longer remain an independent body; making health and social care the only profession to be directly regulated by the government. The Children and Social Work Bill has now had its second reading in the House of Lords and will be debated further by peers before its first reading in the House of Commons. We will be publishing more details about the Bill as they are released on sanctuarysocialcare.com.
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News bites
Government to replace serious case reviews (SCRs) The government has announced plans to scrap the current system of SCRs after a review into local safeguarding children boards called for “fundamental changes”. The Wood Review (which was undertaken by Alan Wood, former President of the Association of Directors of Children Services) concluded that the current model is not good enough and an independent body should oversee a new learning framework, which would be a mix of national and local reviews. Wood has also recommended that the new body’s remit should be subject to a national consultation, and that it ought be held accountable to the government. Following the review, the government announced in the Children and Social Work Bill that it would introduce a new statutory framework requiring councils, the police and the NHS to improve multi-agency working.
Adult social care inquiry launched An inquiry has been launched by the Communities and Local Government (CLG) committee into whether local authorities have sufficient funding to meet their statutory duties under the Care Act.
will also be considered. Clive Betts MP, the committee’s chair, said “our inquiry will look at the financial sustainability of care and support to see what can be done to allow councils to continue to meet their legal obligations for future generations.”
The inquiry will look at both the quality and financial sustainability of adult social care in England and will examine whether authorities are able to assess and meet the needs of people needing care and support. The impact of the National Living Wage policy and last year’s announcement of the 2% increase in council tax,
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Resources giveaway
Introducing the
‘worry eater’ For young people who struggle to articulate their feelings, ‘worry eaters’ are proving a useful communication tool for children in care at Essex County Council.
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e catch up with Senior Social Work Practitioner and 2014’s Social Worker of the Year, Zahraa Adam, to find out how the team is making use of worry eaters, inspired by Gerhard Hahn’s German children’s TV series.
“Some young people use them solely as a way to communicate with their foster carers, as it’s often physically difficult for them to say certain things.” Whilst ‘Wanda’ and ‘Saggo’ would not look out of place amongst a child’s toys, these zipped-mouthed creatures have a very specific purpose. Young people write down their worries, place them inside the toy’s mouth to be shared with the social worker or foster carer. Zahraa explains how the team uses them: “In some instances, they may just write a single word, emotion or feeling and when the social worker visits they talk about why they felt that particular feeling or emotion. At other times, they may write about their day or make a note of a song lyric. Either way, it opens some kind of conversation with the social worker.” The worry eater also aids communication between a child and their foster carer, as Zahraa tells us: “Some young people use them solely as a way to communicate with their foster carers, as it’s often physically difficult for them to say certain things. Instead, they’ll put a note into the worry eater for their foster carer to read later.” It’s the concept behind the worry eater that is most powerful though. As Zahraa explains, “for many of our asylum-seeking children, they don’t really have a concept of soft toys, but you don’t have to use a teddy. You can develop the idea. For example, a money box can be used for posting notes, in much the same way”.
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Resources giveaway
Giveaways “The road to knowledge begins with the turn Worry eater giveaway of a page” ‘Saggo’ and ‘Enno’ are looking for a home! We’ll be giving away two worry eaters, kindly donated by the manufacturer, Worry Eater, and online toys supplier PDK (pdk.co.uk).
Simply send an email to giveaway@sanctuarysocialcare.com with the subject heading “worry eater giveaway”. Don’t forget to include your name, postal address, email and phone number.
Make sure you bookmark this page to read more about the latest social work textbooks of benefit to you and your colleagues. Models of Mental Health Gavin Davidson, Jim Campbell, Ciarán Shannon & Ciaran Mulholland Palgrave (he.palgrave.com), £24.99 Part of the “Foundations of Mental Health Practice” series, this book covers theoretical models relating to mental health practice, including bio-medical, psychological and social perspectives. Divided into two sections, the reader is able to critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of these theories, whilst exploring current ideas that challenge traditional thinking. Concisely written and well structured, the authors make excellent use of case studies and suggested learning exercises.
Win these titles
Practice Learning in Social Work
For your chance to win all three titles, simply send an email to giveaway@sanctuarysocialcare.com with the subject heading “book giveaway”. Don’t forget to include your name, postal address, email and phone number.
Jennifer Burton, Palgrave (he.palgrave.com), £19.99 An informative read for supervisors and practitioners alike, this book is a ‘practical resource for guiding critical supervision and practice’. Interestingly, the authors draw on their unique combination of social work and academic experience. The reader is encouraged to think about the wider social environment in which human relationships and interactions take place, and how this can be used to support professional supervision.
Critical Supervision for the Human Services Carolyn Noble, Mel Gray, Lou Johnston, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (jkp.com), £22.99
The closing date for both entries will be 30 September 2016. The winner will be randomly selected and the judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Described as a “valuable resource for students”, this book is a useful read for all social work students, whether they are about to start their first placement, are currently gaining experience or are about to qualify as an NQSW. Published in association with BASW, it is divided into three parts drawing on realistic case studies, reflective learning exercises, practice-led research references and personal checklists to illustrate her points.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 07
From the frontline
From the
frontline
Sh a r your n e ews!
Simply email press@ sanctua rysocia if you h lcare.co ave a s m tory yo u wish to share with us .
News directly from council teams.
Salford backs major change for health and social care WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LEADING THE FIGHT AGAINST FGM An innovative approach to tackling Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has been hailed a “ground-breaking initiative” by the Mayor of London’s Office.
Plans to create a single, new organisation to deliver most adult health and social care services in Salford have been approved by Salford City Council.
The project involves specialist social workers, midwives and community health advocates supporting victims of FGM, as well as protecting their daughters from falling victim in the future. It has since been rolled out to various other boroughs across London.
It’s another step towards creating a new integrated care organisation to be led by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (SRFT).
The work carried out in the five boroughs is part of the Mayor of London’s two-year Harmful Practices scheme, co-ordinated by MOPAC and funded by the Department for Education. The holistic approach engages over 2,300 people across the capital, and holds special awareness sessions with boys and fathers to ensure all family members are united against the crime.
Salford City Council, SRFT NHS Salford Clinical Commissioning Group and Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMW) are working together to develop the new organisation. City Mayor Paul Dennett, said “if the proposals are fully approved, more than 2,000 council and health staff working across adult community, mental and acute health and social care services will be brought together under an integrated approach to service delivery.”
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 08
From the frontline
Bucks put candidates into the shoes of a social worker Social worker candidates who apply to work at Buckinghamshire County Council will be transported into an immersive virtual simulation. Bucks is asking candidates to step inside the shoes of a social worker on a visit to a fictional but research-based at-risk family. The simulation is designed so candidates can show their skills and knowledge in a more realistic setting. The interactive element forms part of a new assessment process developed by Bucks in partnership with Sten 10. Candidates will attend a one-day Assessment Centre designed to give them opportunities to actively demonstrate their abilities and values. Take a look at the interactive game in action with Learning and Development Lead of Children’s Social Care, Kate Glover-Wright: youtube.com/watch?v=-u3w1ohMzNw
ONE YEAR ON: IMPROVING SOMERSET’S CHILDREN’S SERVICES Somerset County Councillors recently heard how the recruitment of more permanent social workers, lower caseloads and stable leadership have improved the county’s children’s services. Reflecting on the year since the introduction of a nine priority plan, social work caseloads have reduced from 20 to 14 on average, 44 new permanent social workers have been recruited and the turnover rate has dropped by 6%, to below the national average.
Cllr Frances Nicholson, Somerset CC’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said “there is still a huge amount of work to do. Our staff know what needs to be done and I am very pleased with how hard everyone is working. “A stable workforce is vital and very difficult to achieve. We’re recruiting successfully now because we have put our children’s services on the map”.
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Cllr Frances Nicholson
A day in the life of...
Work life
A day in the life of... an award-winning Social Care Manager, Maureen Roscoe-Goulson.
M
aureen Roscoe-Goulson manages the Children and Young People Services (CYPS) North & East Ipswich Social Care Team at Suffolk County Council and was awarded Team Leader of the Year 2015 at the Social Worker of the Year Awards. Her nomination highlighted excellence in coping with organisational change, securing positive feedback from Ofsted and investing in staff. We find out more about the woman behind the award, who is also Suffolk’s longest-serving Child In Need Team Manager.
My journey into social work... Was a little unconventional. In many ways, social work was a second career for me. It was a career choice I arrived at after having my daughter and arriving back to the UK following a life abroad. I had always been interested in social work as a career, and wanted to be part of something rewarding and that I could develop with. Like many people though, I didn’t know exactly what was involved until I researched the profession and took a year’s voluntary role at what was then, a family centre.
My typical day... Has to be planned with flexibility in mind. It is a large team with ten social workers and other supporting staff, and as with all frontline social work teams, we have to adapt very quickly to whatever needs our attention. Sometimes, my carefully laid plans for my day will need to change when I walk in the door but the variation of the work means every day is different. My team is incredibly busy as we take on all new assessments for the area and every case remains with us from the initial contact through to the first court hearing, if required. If a Supervision Order is granted by the Court, this will come back or remain in our team to manage. Crucially, this offers the child, their family and/or carer a consistent point of contact with the same social worker. We also take on private law cases as well (Section 7s and Section 37s) where parents have been unable to resolve disputes and the court asks for the local authority’s assistance.
After very little deliberation, I started my training and qualified in 2003, studying whilst my daughter was at nursery. I started within frontline child protection work and never looked back, It’s hard to believe that was 13 years ago now!
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A day in the life of...
My proudest moments... Often come along unexpectedly. I occasionally read about children, who following assessment and the court process, were adopted and are now leading very happy, safe and fulfilling lives. Other times it’s seeing families in the community that have come through difficult times and are still together. It’s in those moments that you know the work you do really counts and makes a difference. Winning Team Leader of the Year was a personal highlight. In all honesty, reading the testimonials from my peers was enough for me. When I discovered I had been shortlisted I remember saying to my line manager “I really don’t think I’ll win”, and so when my name was called out at the awards I was incredibly shocked, happy and humbled; all in that order.
The most challenging part of my job... Is trying to maintain an overall good standard of practice with a high workload; a challenge most social work professionals will empathise with. To address some of the pressure points, I work closely with my equivalent in the Early Help Service. Just as an example, together we attend a forum with all the high schools and junior schools in our area. This helps them understand the context in which we’re working and vice-versa. In fact, we proactively encourage such organisations to regularly remain in contact with us. I also meet monthly with Ipswich Hospital Maternity Services to encourage greater sharing of information to ensure children receive the best possible service.
“None of us are here forever, but in my role I feel like I am somehow leaving a small footprint for others to follow.” My main motivation now, as a Team Leader and a Practice Educator, is seeing those I support develop. Supervision is incredibly important here; not just for newly qualified staff, but for experienced practitioners too. It’s a chance to think about what we are doing and what we hope to achieve. Words cannot describe when you’re supervising and working with somebody and you can see when they’ve just ‘got it’ and that you’ve helped them get there in some small way. None of us are here forever, but in my role I feel like I am somehow leaving a small footprint for others to follow. I want people to come into the service, stay here and pass their knowledge onto others.
After work... It’s so important to find a work-life balance. This is why I encourage my team to arrive and leave on time rather than being overrun. Me personally, I enjoy spending time with my family, walking my dog and absolutely love a good crime thriller. Ian Rankin is one of my favourite authors and believe it or not, reading helps me decompress before I go to sleep!
My main motivation... Has changed over the years, although my desire to make a positive difference to children remains unchanged.
Ma u
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l k i ng h re e n w a
er dog D
ais y
Council spotlight
Council spotlight We find out what it is like to be in charge of Rotherham Council’s children’s services.
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Ian Thomas, DCS
otherham Council hit the national headlines over its failings to deal with child sexual exploitation (CSE). Fundamental flaws were identified across the council, but in particular in children’s services, which was deemed failing by Ofsted. Government Commissioners were brought in to run the council and powers were stripped from the then leadership. That was nearly two years ago. Since then there has been a wholesale change of management and now they have their sights firmly set on becoming an outstanding borough by 2018. We talk to the man instrumental to the delivery of these changes – Strategic Director of Children’s Services (DCS), Ian Thomas.
What has it been like working for Rotherham? Since my appointment on 4 January 2015, I have been impressed by the commitment of council officers and our partners in their efficacious response following the publication of the Jay, Casey and Ofsted reports. Our resolve has been bolstered by the appointment of our new Chief Executive, who has made becoming a ‘child-centred borough’ one of her priorities.
What do you bring to your role? I had already worked with elected members,
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 12
corporate colleagues, partners and a great staff team to develop a service rated as good by Ofsted in Derbyshire, where performance management and a learning culture deliver good outcomes for children. In my view, this is what Rotherham needed. I wanted to do things differently for Rotherham’s children and families, working with local stakeholders to co-produce the right services at the right time for those most vulnerable. This has included a single point of contact for co-ordinated early help and social care, which has already resulted in the stepping down of casework. We have streamlined how our social workers operate to ensure more manageable caseloads. Also, management are now based in locality teams, which has increased their visibility and brought services together.
What is the biggest issue you are facing as a service? There isn’t one issue, but a number of fundamental issues. We need to recruit more experienced social workers to meet the needs of our children. We also need to recruit more adopters and increase the number of foster carers for children aged over 13. These same issues are faced by other local authorities, but the CSE scandal presents us with a number of challenges, and consequently, opportunities. We need people to understand the changes we have and are still making and to come and work for us at this pivotal time. I am pleased to be able to say that as a result of the progress we have made and our ambitions to become a
Council spotlight
child-centred borough, Rotherham is quickly becoming an employer of choice and as a result, we have made a number of excellent appointments in children’s social care recently.
What achievements are you most proud of ?
Crowden Outdoor Education Centre
Benefits of living & working in Rotherham: • • • •
Securing convictions against six individuals, who were sentenced to a total of 102 years for CSE, demonstrates that we take this sort of crime seriously. We invested time in supporting our 21 witnesses to see the trial through. Words cannot describe the bravery and fortitude of these women, who had to relive the horrors of the past. It is the combined efforts of Evolve, which brings together police, council and health services all under one roof to tackle CSE, and our newly-formed Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) that supports victims and survivors through the daunting process.
and familiarity, helping us to put vulnerable children and young people at the centre of what we do. We provide a formal platform for our social workers to listen, learn and improve every aspect of our working structure, processes and environment. There is a definite ladder to be climbed for those with talent and ambition and we have invested in training programmes to support this.
Apply today For vacancies, please visit childrenssocialcarejobs.org.uk or for an informal chat, call Rotherham’s resourcing team on 01709 822 072.
What can you expect if you join the team?
A rural location with easy access to contemporary leisure facilities and extensive retail outlets
What improvements have been made in the last year?
Close to an international airport, the M1 and M18 and high-speed capital rail links
There have been significant improvements; however we recognise there is still further work to do to achieve an outstanding Children and Young People’s Service (CYPS) by 2018. We have eradicated the assessment backlog with no assessments open over 45 days. Regularly, above 98% of Child Protection Plans are up-to-date and 94% of Initial Child Protection Conferences are held within 15 working days.
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However, we still need to see a bigger decline in re-referral rates, and too many care leavers are not yet engaged in education, employment or training so there will be a renewed focus on this over the next year.
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A population of approx 250,000 and covering around 100 square miles Competitively priced housing market, in urban and rural locations
What would encourage people to join your team? Rotherham High Street
Rother Valley Country Park
We have invested in, and put in place new ways of working, including radically restructuring to enable us to deploy much smaller teams. This gives a greater degree of supervision and more appropriate caseloads – enabling our practitioners to focus on fewer children. Our locality teams are placed within the communities they serve, building close relationships with partners, children and families in the local area. This deepens trust
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Your reward for working for the council goes far beyond the salary you receive:
• • •
• • • •
Manageable caseloads (current average 15 per full-time caseworker) Retention bonus of up to £2,674 after one year A supportive, close-knit unit with regular supervision Competitive basic salary for experienced social workers up to £35,662 Generous holiday entitlement of 26 days plus bank holidays Local government pension scheme – taking care of your future Childcare vouchers – a helping hand at home Salary sacrifice car parking scheme – reducing the cost of travel Very attractive green car lease salary sacrifice scheme – doing your bit for the environment and value for money
Promotional feature
Working for Surrey J
Would you like to be part of Surrey’s success? oin Surrey County Council’s team of committed and passionate staff who are determined to make a positive difference day in, day out, to the lives of vulnerable children and adults.
Guildford high street
With a significant investment being made into improving its social services, Sanctuary is delighted to be working with the council by recruiting talented locum social workers who want to be part of Surrey’s success story. You will not only be remunerated well, you will also benefit from supportive management with clear expectations and manageable caseloads.
Recruiting now for:
Thorpe Park
Social workers and senior social workers in the following teams: Adult:
• • • • • •
Children’s:
• • •
Vulnerable Adults MASH Mental Health
Referral & Assessment Child Protection Looked After Children
Forensic Mental Health Approved Mental Health Professional Hospital Discharge
Sanctuary benefits To be considered for a position, you will need to be registered with Sanctuary where you can benefit from:
• • • • • •
Competitive rates of pay Access to exclusive vacancies Free DBS check and online training A dedicated consultant and support team Part-time or full-time contracts, flexible to your needs Free subscription to Sanctuary Social Work News magazine
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Find out more To find out more and view vacancies, visit sanctuarysocialcare/surrey. We look forward to hearing from you.
Social media
Are you on
social media? S
By Zoë Betts, Adult Social Worker & Owner of iamsocialwork.
ocial care is based on confidentiality yet social media sites are built on the free sharing of information. On the face of it there appears to be conflict of interest, but these seemingly opposite worlds can be mutually beneficial. We’re taught early in this career the importance of keeping information relating to the role, confidential. Code seven of the HCPC Standards of Proficiency is to be able to maintain confidentiality and that local authorities should go to great lengths to limit the leaking of information. Yet there’s this active community gathering online, creating an energetic platform for us to engage, as people realise the benefits that building online connections on a professional level can bring. Like so much of our lives these days, one of the most favourable ways to connect is online. We are social creatures and social media focuses on that fundamental communication. I’m an advocate for using social media professionally. Twitter has generated an enormous amount of connections and opportunities for me; my first article for The Guardian was on the back of a tweet and being asked to expand my 140 characters. One of the first things I ask people who approach me for advice is if they are on social media. It seems an insensitive response, but in stark contrast, it has nurtured a home for one of the strongest support networks in this industry. It’s vast and the amount of social work
professionals actively using Twitter is impressive. Chief Social Workers Lyn Romeo and Isabelle Trowler are active users, as are numerous academics, practitioners, students, MPs and even our Minister of State for Community and Social Care. Here are three reasons I think you should join too:
1. It’s FREE! Just sign up to Twitter and you’re off. It’s a level playing field out there, and the more actively you use it, the better. Ask your question without the pressure of standing up in front of 300 people. Search through other users ‘following’ lists to find interesting people. Or just use it to read and absorb if you prefer.
2. Larger networks of support strengthen your practice Always put yourself at as much of an advantage as you can and this is a great place to do it. Creating more links with professionals will strengthen your abilities, leaving you better informed and more supported with a wider knowledge base.
3. It’s perfect for CPD So much content is shared on social networking sites; it makes for ideal CPD on your commute. Record in your CPD log as self-directed learning, or even ‘updating knowledge through the internet’ – yes that’s an HCPC work example!
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“We are social creatures and social media focuses on that fundamental communication.”
Social media
“So much content is shared on social networking sites; it makes for ideal CPD on your commute.” There’s a wealth of people online whose faces I may never know, and with memorable hashtags, such as #MondayMotivation, we feel connected and are able to share stories. Specific case discussion is not the focus; it’s about broader learning themes and reaching out for support from each other. The biggest challenge I have in running iamsocialwork is reaching people. Cue social media, where I can message local authorities, university lecturers and practicing social workers about upcoming events, adding hashtags (#) for themed gatherings so attendees can find each other. It’s a huge part of how I build and keep contacts now. I’ll never forget being introduced to someone, by their Twitter handle! You develop relationships away from the smartphone, but how else can you connect with a social worker in Hull when you’re working in Sussex? Blogs can be a rich source of information. For instance, Lyn Romeo’s blog is interesting for me working in adult services. The Guardian app is great and you can add the Social Care Network to your Guardian home screen.
You can also access backdated digital versions of Sanctuary Social Work News by visiting sanctuarysocialcare.com/social-work-newsmagazine or check out the Sanctuary Social Care blog available on the same website. Also, take LinkedIn for example, it’s a great place to show off your CV. There are also a number of social work communities now active on Facebook and as I prepare to launch my next iamsocialwork campaign, creating a Facebook page for us to connect more efficiently is next on my to-do list. It’s evidenced how well online connections work. We have come to rely on them. So in a job that can feel tough and isolating – why wouldn’t you be on social media?
Author profile Zoë runs iamsocialwork which supports students and qualified social workers to network with one another and learn from academics via a variety of national events and forums. She is a judge for the Social Worker of the Year Awards and works full-time as a social worker, addressing process improvements as part of an integrated hospital discharge team in London.
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Male suicide
Male suicide, the silent epidemic
We find out why men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women and what signs we should all be aware of.
S Jane Powell
uicide is the single biggest killer of men aged under 45 in the UK, and sadly, on average 12 men take their own life every day. We catch up with Jane Powell, Chief Executive Officer of award-winning charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), which is dedicated to preventing male suicide.
Could you tell us more about the work of CALM? CALM works to prevent male suicide by providing frontline services for men, promoting cultural change and campaigning for better understanding of suicide and prevention. CALM runs a free helpline and webchat service for any man who needs support, and offers a website and magazine with content that reaches men on their own terms. Now in our tenth year, CALM has also carved out a reputation for running hard-hitting campaigns that raise awareness of male suicide and tackle stereotypes which depict a ‘real man’ as strong and silent.
“75%
of all suicides are male & in 2014 alone, 4623 men in the UK took their own life.”
What are the main influencing factors (or pressure points) in male suicide? 75% of all suicides are male and in 2014 alone, 4623 men in the UK took their own life. The breakdown of family relationships, work and money pressures, health concerns and mental health are issues that come up repeatedly when men call our helpline. All this is happening against a backdrop of austerity. A scientific study published by the University of Liverpool in the British Medical Journal suggests that austerity and unemployment have driven more than 1,000 people in Britain to take their own lives. The study found that the number of unemployed
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Male suicide
“43%
of men have contemplated taking their own life, but less than half of these men spoke to anyone about how they were feeling.” men rose on average across Britain by 25.6 percent each year from 2008 to 2010 whilst male suicide increased by 3.6 percent each year.
Why do men find it more difficult to reach out than women? The CALM Masculinity Audit 2014 revealed that the cultural expectations of men are that they should, by default, be the main breadwinner. Taking equal financial responsibility in the household is still, for many women, seen as something they can opt into. Many men believe that the burden of being responsible for their family’s economic and practical wellbeing remains on their shoulders. Following 10 years of calls to the CALM helpline, as a charity, we have a rich vein of stories and comments provided to us by men who support the campaign and their message is consistent; ‘It is tough being a man’. This was reinforced by our October 2015 YouGov poll, which revealed 43% of men have contemplated taking their own life, but less than half of these men spoke to anyone about how they were feeling. Almost a third said they didn’t speak up because they didn’t know how to talk about it.
Various circumstances can happen in our lives that could put us at risk of needing support, but understanding the pressures brought on by masculinity is vitally important. As professionals, just being aware of some of the signs is useful. Men who may be contemplating taking their own lives could be:
• • • • • • • • • •
Sleeping too much or too little Less interested in the world around them or socially withdrawn Drinking too much or taking drugs Engaging in ‘risky’ behaviour Very irritable or angry Behaving in a very hyper manner Neglecting their appearance Withdrawing from social activities Giving away possessions Talking about suicide or wanting to die, even if in a vague manner
Very often, men who are depressed may camouflage this by being very outward-facing; looking after their friends, being the life and soul of the party, the joker, probably taking risks or behaving ‘badly’. What they tend not to do is sit down and reveal how they’re feeling. Allowing them to admit to being vulnerable in a place where they feel safe and supported can make all the difference.
Further information
What role can frontline social workers play in helping men at risk of suicide? Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 19
For more information, visit thecalmzone.net and to request copies of CALM’s free magazine CALMzine, simply email info@thecalmzone.net CALM’s helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat service (5pm – midnight daily) is free, confidential, anonymous and staffed by trained professionals.
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Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 20
Promotional feature
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Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 21
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Revving up the
AMHPs
Les Konzon writes about the challenges AMHPs face in keeping up-to-date with the law.
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n November 1974, I detained someone under the Mental Health Act for the very first time. I had only been a social worker for one month, so I asked a colleague what to do and received the reply that it was “easy; all you do is fill in this form”. Since then I have found something that has driven my professional life; championing the rights of people who are confronted by the power of professionals and the law. I’ve done this throughout my own practice, managing the performance of others and helping other professionals understand the full complexity of what ‘sectioning’ someone means; and “easy”, it is not! A lot has changed since then with new legislation, codes of practice, amendments to the Mental Health Act (MHA), a plethora of case law, and eventually, the formal recognition that interpreting the law correctly and keeping up-to-date with legal developments has to be central to being a competent Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP). And, yes. I’ve changed too! I have told the prospective adult social workers and AMHPs during this time that detaining someone is relatively straightforward. After all, two doctors have already said that this is what should happen! Where the approved professional really earns their spurs though,
is not in making the application, but in having to stand alone and be counted. How do you explain to a doctor that you are not criticising their professional integrity when you disagree over ‘sectioning’ someone? How has the Enfield judgment affected the Bristol judgment in the AMHP’s decision-making? And then, to name just one of many issues, there is the little matter of no bed being available when the service user needs to be detained! Whilst I reflect upon what’s changed, a brief look at the statistics reminds me that the number of Mental Health Act (MHA) assessments has grown beyond expectation. In the last recorded year, there were 50,408 detentions under the act which represents a 4% (1,777) increase from the previous reporting period and about a 40% increase on 1982-83. Of those people who spent time in hospital, 45.6% were subject to the MHA at some point in the year. Males aged 18 to 35 were most likely (56.1%) to be subject to the act, whist women form the majority of in-patients. Amongst statutory NHS providers, the data shows an 8.7% increase in the number of in-patients being subject to the Mental Health Act during the year. This statistical data gives a window to examine the outcomes of AMHP practice. After all, their decision is critical to ensuring people are not deprived of their liberty. Therefore, they deserve the best support available to their practice.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 22
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Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 23
Tri-borough children’s services
Fulham Palace Road
Trellick Tower, North Kensington
Sunset over the City of Westminster
Tri-borough integration:
a shared success We discover more about the social work model that has seen two of Tri-borough’s children’s services rated “outstanding” by Ofsted.
I
n an interview with Clare Chamberlain, interim Tri-borough Executive Director of Children’s Services, we find out more about the successful model, which is unifying children’s social services across three London councils (Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster).
Could you tell us more about Tri-borough’s success? Broadly speaking, small caseloads held by a strong and stable workforce, and the deployment of leaders and managers who are very connected to the frontline workforce, have been fundamental to our success. Not only is there a commitment to systemic practice, skills and knowledge development of this way of working, we have also embedded family therapists across our social work teams.
There have been many professionals who have assisted to this point. How do you make sure everyone pulls in the right direction? We have a shared vision for our practice system in which systemic practice and a family-based approach is a central feature. The 'Focus on Practice' programme gave all staff in children's social care the opportunity to engage in a comprehensive skills and development programme, facilitating a shared understanding of effective interventions with families.
How has a strong focus on ‘practice’ helped to deliver those results? We believe that our concentrated efforts in improving frontline practice have been
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 24
Tri-borough children’s services
“The Tri-borough model has enabled us to have a number of specialist posts and teams which we would not be able to afford in one single borough.” essential in developing a high quality service to families. In addition to the 'Focus on Practice' programme, senior leaders spend two full weeks per year auditing cases, observing practice and talking to children and families about the help they receive. This gives a clear message to the workforce that we are not just interested in data, but also in the quality of practice. It gives staff an opportunity to tell us about good practice and to understand the complexity of the work they do.
Could you tell us how the funding has helped to equip social workers with a broader skill set? Every single practitioner in the three children's social care departments has completed, or is in the process of completing, a 25-day skills and knowledge development programme leading to qualification in the first year of systemic family practice. Access to family therapists is embedded within each team and there are reflection groups that build on the training.
How are you changing the focus from just being about assessment and risk management? Our ambition is to redress the balance and to see assessment as part of an overall intervention. When social workers and other practitioners use effective interventions rather than just assessing, they can see the benefit to families and the work is more satisfying. In one of our boroughs, the social workers hold cases from referral through to long-term work, meaning there are no handover points and that the intervention starts from day one.
Have you been able to ensure reasonable caseloads? Yes, this is a key part of our ‘Focus on Practice’ initiative. We know from recent research that
it isn't enough just to have good workers, they have to be able to spend significant time with families to be effective. We wanted to replicate the model used by edge of care type teams in our core business, and so small caseloads are essential. We are promoting a practice system where practitioners do not 'refer out' for intensive services but do the work themselves. It is taking time to change the culture, and there is a lot more to do in this area, but our vision is to implement a combination of effective demand management whilst encouraging staff to do intensive pieces of work.
How is the new model enabling economies of scale? The Tri-borough model has enabled us to have a number of specialist posts and teams which we would not be able to afford in one single borough. Examples include the MASH, a Tri-borough fostering and adoption team, a case manager for care proceedings who has established good relationships with the courts, a missing children co-ordinator, and a project to work with parents who have had children removed and thus prevent further removals.
“It isn’t enough just to have good workers, they have to be able to spend significant time with families to be effective.”
Author profile Clare Chamberlain is the interim Tri-borough Executive Director of Children’s Services. She is responsible for a single Children’s Services Commissioning function. This includes social care and family support services, a single education commissioning function designed to raise standards and prevent failure in 153 schools, and a borough-based provision protecting children and supporting families. Clare was previously the Director of Family Services at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, leading work on ‘Focus on Practice’, a programme to enhance the skills of children’s social workers across the three boroughs.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 25
Academic feature
Looking at
England & Norway Brian Mitchell of Bradford College examines the contrasting perceptions of social work in the UK and Norway, and the impact this has on the frontline.
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ocial work in England and Wales is currently undergoing a period of unprecedented change, largely influenced and determined by an agenda sharply focused on risk and safeguarding. From an academic point of view, the reasons for this change are interesting. Professor Ray Jones (2015) argues that the media has been instrumental in creating a national dialogue concerned primarily with workers being ‘hunted' by a significant and influential ‘cluster of tabloid newspapers’. Whilst one cannot generalise, there does not appear to be a dialogue quite as ferocious relating to social work in Europe as there is here in the UK. Having recently visited Norway, colleagues from The Faculty of Social Care and Community Practice at Bradford College were interested in exploring the differences in the perception of safeguarding and how this has manifested itself in terms of actual practice. In looking at Norway’s history of safeguarding, it’s clear it has a good track record of championing progressive practice. For example, in 1981, it was the first country in the
world to appoint a children's ombudsman. The role was seen as incredibly forward-thinking at the time, was adopted internationally, and has now become standard across Europe. Since then, Norway has seen a number of changes to its welfare system to make it more service orientated and to remove some of the stigma. Since the introduction of the Child Welfare Act 1992, there has been a resounding focus on lowering thresholds for intervention and promoting early intervention. From our observations and research, the Norwegian experience of child welfare is very much a ‘family service’ system. There’s a strong emphasis in Norway on family-orientated evidence-based programmes, including multi-systemic therapy (MST) aimed at young people themselves and parent management training (PMT). All this is underpinned by a child-centred approach which includes children and young people in decisions concerning them. There is also considerable support for care leavers too, with services provided before a child reaches 18 being maintained or substituted by other services until they reach the age of 23. Child and family provision in England and Wales, by contrast, are ‘categorised’ within a
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 26
Academic feature
“Looking at Norway’s history of safeguarding, it’s clear it has a good track record of championing progressive practice”
She goes on to say that if the reaction is driven from a ‘family service’ perspective, as it is in Norway, professionals are able to adopt a more empathetic methodology. From this viewpoint, family and private difficulties are more likely to be seen from a ‘socialecological dynamic’ and immediate support circles are used to resolve issues and provide reassurance and security against adverse social conditions and environments. Ultimately, children are still removed where circumstances are severe and risk of harm remains high. Dr Danielle Turney 2016 of Bristol University suggests that the differences in Norway and England provide tangible evidence of two contrasting approaches. In England, concerns regarding child protection are influenced by supposed failings in practice highlighted through serious case reviews. This, as Professor Jones (2015) also argues, presents us with an alternative narrative; one where the risk to the child filters through to a government level and where the language of crisis dictates the outcomes and decisions within serious case reviews. This then manifests itself within policy, devised and developed from the perspective of child protection.
protection model. As you would expect, there are some obvious similarities, as both approaches to safeguarding children are underpinned by a focus on three distinct principles, reports my colleague, Professor Marit Skivenes (2014) at the University of Bergen in Norway:
• • •
Safety; children have an absolute right to live in an environment free from abuse and neglect.
Of course, there is a danger in drawing too many absolute conclusions with regards to approaches to practice. However, as Professor Lera Boroditsky (2010) offers, ‘language shapes cultural values’ and the way we use words and classify meaning is central to how we develop and catalogue intervention. We might do well then to give more consideration to how we discuss and contextualise safeguarding through language and how this then links to practice.
Permanency; children need a family and a permanent place to call home. Child and family wellbeing; children deserve nurturing environments in which their physical, emotional, educational, and social needs are met.
Professor Skivenes makes an interesting observation about organisations that frame their responses around a ‘child protection perspective’. This usually directs the worker to consider abuse and risk alongside blame ‘where the responsibility can be located with the parents or immediate family’, prompting an approach driven by forensic concerns. This, she argues, often leads to the removal of the child.
Further information For further reading on this subject, the following research papers are useful: Gilbert, N.; Parton, N.; Skivenes, Marit. 2011. Child Protection Systems: International Trends and Emerging Orientations. Oxford University Press. Vibeke, S.; Turney, D. 2016. The role of professional judgement in social work assessment: A comparison between Norway and England. European Journal of Social Work. Boroditsky, L. 2010. How Language Shapes Thought. Scientific American.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 27
Your CPD
What would you like to read ...as part of your Continuing Professional Development?
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roviding a magazine that is interesting and relevant to you is our top priority and we would like to hear your thoughts on what you would like to see featured. After all, reading Sanctuary Social Work News can count as part of your Continuing Professional Development. Our editorial team will happily consider any ideas for future content. Perhaps you are involved in or know about a project you think deserves wider recognition, or maybe you or your team would like to contribute? You can let us know your ideas by filling in our feedback survey at surveymonkey.com/s/ sanctuarymagazine or by getting in touch using the details below. We look forward to hearing from you!
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