Social Workers- question to FM
Posted on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 2:21pm
3 responses
Here is a question that I asked during First Minister’s questions today on Social Workers. I did put in an urgent question on the closure of the Neath and Port Talbot Guardians, but this was declined. I will raise it during business questions instead, as I have now drafted a statement of opinion on the matter for AMs to sign. I will put it on here later so that you can lobby your AM to sign if you care about the matter.
‘ The First Minister will recall that last Jun the Welsh Assembly Government indicated it would establish a Task Group to explore ways of improving the recruitment and retention of social workers and boost the status of the profession in Wales. The move was a response to British Association of Social Workers research highlighting the challenges facing social workers, including the high turnover of staff, excessive bureaucracy and the personal risks associated with front line social work. I was pleased to sponsor an event in the Assembly to highlight this research and pleased the Government responded in such a positive way. Can the First Minister provide an update on the progress that the working group has made, as I am led to believe that it has not yet met as a group.’
By the way, its Rhodri’s birthday today, and don’t we know it! Ann Jones tried to initate a Happy Birthday sing along a la Marilyn Monroe( well, as said Nick Bourne! ) but it fell flat, and was very embarrassing. If we would have had prior warning, we could have arranged a choir of AMs to sing, led by virtuoso, Eleanor Burnham of course!
Ah well. Next time, because the way things are going it seems that Rhodri Morgan will be First Minsiter longer than we think……
