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……
Bethan Could you also ask.
The London Government are presently having a consultation period which ends in November. For legislation they hope to bring in regarding the Attendance and Disability Care allowances being taken away from the elderly and disabled people.
Their intention is to hand it over to Local Authorities, ei; Social Services, so they can hand it out as part of Social Care.
This means a great deal of elderly and disabled people will lose a lot of money.
Money for which they rely on each week to live. If! they have their way, (though there is a groundswell of support starting against it).
Are Social Workers (a)going to have the training and experience needed to be able to decide who is eligable or not.
(b)Are they going to train up more Social Workers and most importantly (c)is the finance going to be there to pay for it. or will it come from the money stolen from the elderly and disabled.
Personaly, and as usual I think it will probably cost more to impliment than it does to pay those allowances as they are now.
Further to my previous post all details on the consultation and Green Paper can be found here. Many charitable organisations involved with the elderly and disabled are forming petitions. Except it seems Age Concern for some reason, who agree apparently with it.
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/disability-living-allowance-(dla)/dla-aa-cuts
http://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/latest-news/1106-scrapping-dla-is-an-option-confirms-dwp
http://www.PoliticalCripple.com
May I please be allowed to appologise to Age Concern.
They are in favour of the Green Paper and its response to more Care for the Elderly.
But they are asking the Government about their intentions for the Disability and Attendance Allowances.