Barnet Council’s Post

The Power of Social Workers I have been to the loo three times in the last hour, palms sweating, breathing heavily and there’s a trembling in my hand. What could be causing this? The dreaded words ‘social work review.’ Last time this meant that they cut my care hours and did not even have to justify why. In fact the report about my increasing needs was pretty good- but upon the social work decision- hours halved. For days I was suicidal. I am not even worth a wash and getting dressed. I can no longer be a Mum, wife, friend, colleague because I didn’t have my basic needs met. Appeal? No. There is no process for that. In the end I fell and badly broke my leg. Hospital sent me home with no care (no social worker available and under 40 why would you need one anyway 🙄?!) Thankfully I was able to ring social care and by God’s good grace spoken to a good one and she reinstated the majority of my care hours to the point where I could manage, immediately. The whole process is hideous and as an educated, reasonably knowledgeable person I am not at the disadvantage of many of my disabled peers. I was able to get those hours back. Most do not. This take is familiar to so many of my friends and horribly cost the lives of a few, sadly. This article is there for all those effected by social work, professionals but the ordinary person who finds themselves under this oppressive system. As an adoptive parent, the least said about social care the better! What a shame it had to be this way- challenging it and improving awareness is a key element here, please share widely. #socialwork #disability #physicalimpairment #communitycare

🚨 Council Leaders Call for an End to Single Word Ratings in Adult Social Care 🚨 The Local Government Association (LGA) is urging the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to stop using single word ratings for councils' adult social care services. This follows Ofsted's recent decision to drop similar ratings for children’s social care. 🔑 Key Points: The LGA advocates for the use of detailed narrative reports rather than single word judgments. CQC’s current reports offer comprehensive insights by breaking down assessments across different themes, providing a fuller picture of service quality. Council leaders believe this approach better reflects the complexities of adult social care and helps identify specific areas for improvement. For over a decade, adult social care has been underfunded, leading to widespread unmet and under-met needs. Simplifying the assessment of such a critical sector to a single word (like "good" or "requires improvement") doesn’t do justice to the nuanced and difficult conditions councils face when providing essential care services to vulnerable populations. Single word ratings, while easy to communicate, often mask the significant efforts councils make to deliver care under challenging financial pressures. These ratings can misrepresent the quality of care provided and the real struggles councils face, such as staffing shortages, growing demand, and inadequate resources. 💬 David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board: "Local government supports transparency and accountability, but single word ratings oversimplify the assessment of adult social care. The complexity of these services, the legal obligations councils must meet, and the impact of years of underfunding are all factors that a one-word judgement simply cannot reflect. We need a fairer, more detailed approach that helps councils improve services and better serve their communities." The LGA also emphasises that the government must urgently step in with proper investment. The current funding crisis in adult social care has led to growing unmet needs, and only a fully costed, long-term funding strategy will ensure people get the care and support they deserve. Assessment systems should be productive and supportive for councils, allowing time to adapt to the new CQC processes and learn from experiences. The LGA’s call highlights the importance of fair assessments and the need for immediate government action to ensure councils can continue to provide vital care services. What do you think of the Single Word Ratings? I'd be interested to hear everyone's thoughts on this. #SocialWorkNews #SocialWork

🌟 'What do you want to be?’ 🌟 #79 Role: Family Support Worker Discover the impactful career of a Family Support Worker, a role dedicated to making a significant difference in the lives of children, young people, and families. These professionals are often employed by local authorities or charitable organizations to provide practical help and emotional support to families facing short-term or long-term difficulties. Responsibilities Family Support Workers tackle a variety of challenges including anti-social behavior, domestic abuse, and mental health issues. They assess families' needs, manage caseloads, and collaborate with health and social care professionals to empower families towards positive change. Salary (global average in US$) The compensation ranges from $18,000 to $24,000 at entry-level, reaching up to $35,000 with experience or specialization, and up to $50,000 in managerial roles. Hourly wages vary from $8.00 to $15.00. Education A minimum of a level 3 qualification in fields like childcare, social care, or youth work is usually required, alongside experience and knowledge of safeguarding practices. Qualifications An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is essential for working with vulnerable groups. Skills Successful Family Support Workers possess excellent communication skills, resilience, organization, and a non-judgmental approach, among other competencies. What to Expect A day in life includes varied tasks from home visits to crisis management, often requiring early mornings or late evenings to fit family schedules. Professional Development There are numerous opportunities for growth, including specialization, management roles, or even transitioning to social work with further education. Career Prospects The outlook for Family Support Workers is promising, with a steady demand in public and not-for-profit sectors. Target Employers Key employers include local authority social services, specialized support organizations, and charities. Engage with us by sharing your stories or asking questions about this fulfilling career path! 🌈 #FamilySupport #SocialWork #CareerPath #searchmarkets #MakeADifference ✨

Care Act 10 Years On: LGA Survey Lays Bare Urgent Action Needed In Adult Social Care Councils are doing all they can to ensure they meet their duties under the Care Act - including cutting spending on other neighbourhood services - but many still fear they will not be able to over the coming years. Only around two thirds of councils are confident of being able to meet all their legal duties under the Care Act by next year (2025/26) - a decade after the Government introduced landmark legislation designed to improve access to vital care and support. This is despite eight in 10 councils forecasting having to cut spending on other community services - such as parks, libraries and leisure - in a bid to try and protect care services, according to a survey of councillors published by the Local Government Association today (May 14) to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Care Act receiving Royal Assent. This follows years of significant underfunding of adult social care services. The Act pulled together a patchwork of legislation on adult social care built up since 1948 placing duties on councils, including the need to focus on people’s wellbeing and ensure the provision of preventative services. However, the Act has coincided with a rise in people needing to draw on care and support and cuts to council funding that has left councils under increasing pressure to do more with less. The LGA's new report – The Care Act 2014: Ten years on from Royal Assent (https://buff.ly/3K6ganS) – lays bare that the biggest issues facing adult social care are greater than just severe funding shortages. Responding councillors also pointed to challenges around recruiting and retaining the care workforce, more people with more complex needs and an inability to invest in preventative services to help people live independent lives and avoid the need for more acute care. The LGA is calling for immediate investment in adult social care to tackle the urgent issues affecting services, alongside a long-term care workforce plan. Ahead of a General Election, the LGA said all parties need to end the politicisation of adult social care, put the national interest first, and work on a cross-party basis at relevant points to secure the future of care and support so that people can live the life they want to lead. Cllr David Fothergill, social care spokesperson for the LGA said: “The Care Act was a beacon of hope for those needing care and support but this hope has faded. A decade on, people are still facing long waiting times for assessments and support, and not getting the full care and support they need. “We are at a critical point, for people who draw on care, councils and the sector. Councils are doing all they can to ensure they meet their duties under the Care Act - including cutting spending on other neighbourhood services - but many still fear they will not be able to over the coming years. “This simply isn’t goo…

Social Work, is it same as Caregiving ⁉️👇 Most times, people mistake Caregiving with Social Work. Social Workers may work as carers if they have the relevant skills, knowledge and training required of a career, but Social Work and caregiving differ. Want to know the difference?? (continue reading 👇) #️⃣Caregiving refers to the activity or profession of regularly looking after a child, a sick with chronic illness, the elderly, or disabled person. It entails what is involved in working as a professional carer, the responsibilities of carers, the care service team, factors involved, professional standards, principles, education and training in providing care. Caregivers may be health professionals, family members, friends, social workers, or members of the clergy. They may give care at home, a hospital or other health care setting. The care my include addressing the physical and emotional needs of clients requiring continuous support and attention with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring and getting to and from activities and meals according to the individual service plan. “#️⃣SocialWorkers on the other hand are essentially part of the multidisciplinary care team”, they are trained and licensed professionals who ensure that the caregiver has all the tools needed to handle situations. Social workers meet the needs of the person needing help (eg. elderly, sick, disabled), but they also help the caregivers to make informed choices relating to care of their clients. The Social Worker informs the caregiver on the protective measures, the functions of the healthcare network, the services to which caregivers are entitled, as well as assistance during the first few months of adaptation following a difficult event. Most times, caregiver deal with their immediate environment, the community, health professionals, institutions, policies of the government etc, and are faced with lots of resources, without knowing which fits their situation or are simply unaware of the help obtainable, social workers then steps in, to help make sense of the situation. With the points above, hope you understand the difference and similarities between Caregiving and Social Work.❗️😃 More knowledge on this? Please share👇 Repost 🔁 for a Social Worker, Caregiver, Social Work enthusiasts or knowledge seeker. ______________________________________ Turn on post notification 🔔, I am a #SocialWorkVoice. I connect like minded Social Workers together, I share #insights + #tips into social work, #socialworkopportunities, success in and making the most of #socialwork. Follow and connect with me, let’s learn and grow together! Seeing my post for the first time? 😃 My name is Victoria Titus-Ebhodaghe, I talk and write on #career #socialwork #socialchange #advocacy #childprotection #SDGs #volunteering #socialimpact #opportunities #programmanagement #outreachcoordination #entrepreneurship and #nongovernmentalorganization

We have joined over 30 social care leaders & people with lived experience to sign a joint open letter to Wes Streeting Department of Health and Social Care to register concern over recent government decisions on adult social care. “The last few days have raised alarm bells for those working in adult social care and those drawing on care and support services.” “Significant delays by the previous government left social care vulnerable to cuts because programmes were not nailed down. We urge this government not to continue that pattern. Future commitments must be steeped in an understanding of the importance of valuing and respecting those whose everyday lives depend on social care delivery and employment. For millions of people, social care has the power to transform everyday life. Cutting these vital programmes has not only a material impact on all of their lives, but the lives of loved ones, friends, and families.” Read the full press release on our website: https://lnkd.in/efs6vEnj #socialcare #homecare

“These are not the conditions for adult social care to thrive." An interesting article in The Guardian covering a new report by Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) yesterday delving into the social care crisis and the urgent need for reform. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eAjcCsR7 #dementia #dementiaawareness #socialcare #socialcarereform #musicfordementia #powerofmusic

Satellite Foundation and Tandem Unite to Advocate for Young Family Carer Lived Experience Workers In response to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, we are witnessing rapid growth in the Lived Experience workforce within Victoria's mental health sector. This expansion creates vital employment opportunities for young family carers (YCs), a unique and often overlooked group. YC’s experiences challenge the typical perceptions of family carers. These individuals, often under the age of 25 and sometimes still children themselves, provide essential unpaid support to a family member or friend. These young people benefit enormously from support and advocacy provided by the young family carer lived experience (FCLE) workforce. These young FCLE workers bring invaluable experiential knowledge to their roles. However, to perform effectively, they require specific workplace support and recognition. Our joint statement, developed through a collaboration between Satellite Foundation and Tandem’s research team, incorporates insights from young FCLE workers themselves. It addresses the barriers they face in recruitment and retention and emphasises that many existing workforce documents fail to acknowledge the distinct challenges and experiences of these young carers. The statement concludes with key recommendations for the mental health and alcohol and other drugs sectors, aiming to enhance the growth, visibility, and success of young family carers within the FCLE workforce. As one young carer noted, “The experience of being a younger carer lingers and stays with you throughout your whole life and continues to affect your life experiences and opportunities.” Together, let’s advocate for better support and recognition for young family carers! Read the full “Improving Conditions for Young Carers as Lived Experience Workers: A Joint Position Statement from Satellite Foundation and Tandem,” here 👇

Care Minister Rules Out Prospect of a National Care Service The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has rejected the idea of a national care service for England. In a speech to Directors of Adult Social Services referring to national care services in Scotland and Wales, DHSC minister Helen Whately said “simplicity, ideology, and slogans grab headlines. A one-size-fits all approach is not the right answer. We need a vision for care which recognises this, even if it’s harder to spell out, and even if it’s more complicated to deliver.” Adding that "The debate is hugely oversimplified" as "simplicity, ideology, and slogans grab headlines" while "care is complex". Ms Whately said: "At one end, you hear from people who think that social care should be nationalised. That it should no longer be the responsibility of the local authorities you are part of. Nor should it be delivered by independent providers. They call for a national state run service – a national care service if you will. "At the other end, you hear from people who think that care should be an exclusively family affair." She said she "finds herself arguing against both of these viewpoints" because "social care supports so many different people with so many different needs" so "a one-size-fits all approach is not the right answer". Ms Whately also expressed "frustration at talking down of social care" during a speech: "The next time someone says to you that social care is broken – or that its problems are being ignored – or that it’s not being reformed – or that care workers need a career structure... tell it as it is. "Yes, social care has big challenges, but we’re working on them." This "work" that the government has been doing to "reform" social care includes a "care workforce pathway" launch, increase in grant funding for local authorities up to £8.6bn and £20m in the Accelerating Reform Fund, Ms Whately said. She also highlighted 15 areas of the country that are using their Accelerating Reform Fund to "scale up" Sharing Lives Care, a scheme to support working age adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems or other needs. Speaking on technology and innovation Ms Whately said: “We’re also backing innovation through technology. Because the potential for technology to improve care and help people live more independent lives is hugely exciting – and there is some brilliant innovation going on, but often in pockets rather than at scale.” “If we take digital social care records as an example. Replacing paper care records with digital records is a no-brainer. It makes social care more efficient by reducing the time staff spend filling in forms and chasing information by phone. It can also mean better, safer care. Digital care records can alert the GP if their patient needs medical treatment, or it can alert staff if medication has been missed. ". Another "crucial part" of the government's reforms is the Care Quality Commission's assurance of local authori…

Just 8% of the social care workforce is under 25 - a smaller proportion than a lot of other sectors. In our latest long read we explore why this might be, looking at it from the lens of social care providers and their attitudes toward a young workforce. https://lnkd.in/dQPTg7qY