tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2009-11-08:/This blog site discusses topical issues of meaning to the world community. I do not police but I watch and listen and tell the world.MokoFeed2009-11-08T20:30:00+01:00tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2007-01-09:/2007/01/09/the_new_world_order~1534991/sworkerz2007-01-09T21:10:55+01:002007-01-09T21:10:55+01:00 <p><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/356/1088356_3f68fbf160_s.jpg" alt="THE WORLD ACCORDING TO" vspace="5" hspace="5"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2007/01/09/the_new_world_order~1534991/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-28:/2006/12/28/saddam_more_unequal_than_others~1487323/sworkerz2006-12-28T15:58:48+01:002006-12-28T15:58:48+01:00 <p>Saddam, is he now at the beggining of the end?<br> Should he be hanged or imprisoned?<br> The politics of the world is so murky and unsettling that I wonder why people opt for it!<br> Could anyone have imagined that a man so powerful could one day become so helpless as this?<br> You do not have to be a Saddam to end this way.<br> But are our leaders any better? Is it right to send children of other helpless families to the war fronts to die and fly them home in body bags?<br> I often ask myself, why do the children of our leaders not go to war just like others?<br> If they can make wars, they should be able to send their children to war too to face the same risks as everyone. Just maybe when they experience the death of one of their children, it would finally dawn on these leaders what others face through their acts! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/28/saddam_more_unequal_than_others~1487323/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-28:/2006/12/28/christmas~1487289/sworkerz2006-12-28T15:50:29+01:002006-12-28T16:02:48+01:00 <p>I remember very fondly in my very young days when I used to 'smell' Christmas!<br> Christmas was then something special. We related it to the birth of Christ and felt the spirit of Christmas in our blood.<br> Unfortunately, that has disappeared. Christmas has now or seem to have been taken over. It is now regarded as santa clause day. Also regarded as when businesses project how much of the peoples' money would come their way, hence the 'conditioning' weeks before the 25th!</p> <p>I have since lost the excitement and reality of what it stands for because the state does hardly acknowledge it these days.<br> In Belgium, I saw a nativity setting with a real sheep.<br> Where is all the Christianity that we had exported to the corners of the world?<br> We are probably the most unGodly nation in the world now.</p> <p>Very soon, I can see the UK making Sunday become a normal day where work will be taken for granted.</p> <p>Am I wrong or simply thinking differently? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/28/christmas~1487289/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-28:/2006/12/28/thank_god~1487247/sworkerz2006-12-28T15:39:06+01:002006-12-28T16:01:39+01:00 <p>I heard the news that the plane that our prime minister was in overshot the run way.<br> I wonder what he was thinking when this was happening or maybe he was not even made aware of it.<br> If he was aware, did he pray to God for his life and that of his family?<br> We pray at church for all our leaders including those of the rest of the world. Even sometime back, we dedicated specific sundays to individual leaders around the world for God to grant them the wisdom to do that that was good for the people.<br> These prayers might have had an effect in the outcome of this freak accident. I hope Tony Blair does not think God is not important in his life. He should go to church and give thanksgiving to God for protecting he and his family. I however thank God on his behalf and people of the UK.</p> <p>May God continue to protect our leaders even if they do things that hurt us sometimes. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/28/thank_god~1487247/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/lands_of_honey_to_africans~1457755/sworkerz2006-12-19T19:44:58+01:002006-12-19T19:44:58+01:00 <p>Why do Africans still rush to leave their countries?<br> I spoke to some Africans today and was horrified at what they do for a living and how more still look forward to coming.<br> I guess that the propaganda of the 'developed countries' on how they want others to view their countries do not help at all. These same countires will not show the ghettos and slums. I was in the US sometime and was shocked to see some parts of New York and Maryland. This is no different to some of the 'negative sites' shown on the 'developed countries' media.</p> <p>I will not take one thing away from the the developed countires. Things work. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/lands_of_honey_to_africans~1457755/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/ibb_evil_genious~1457722/sworkerz2006-12-19T19:35:50+01:002006-12-19T19:35:50+01:00 <p>Who is this man that is so feared by some Africans (Nigerians to be precise)?<br> I stumbled on a web site accidentally <a href="http://www.againstbabangida.com">(www.againstbabangida.com)</a><br> I was quite intigued by this site and what has been written of him. He must have been and still seen as a very dangerous human being.<br> Why can't he be charged with crime against humanity? If you want to read more on this guy, copy the link above and feed yourselves with what sort of humans have had the opprtunity to lead countries around the world.<br> I am chaffed.<br> I also read that he perfected or designed the 419? Is this true? Humm...</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/ibb_evil_genious~1457722/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/gas_prices_stay_up~1457700/sworkerz2006-12-19T19:28:38+01:002006-12-19T19:28:38+01:00 <p>I think in econmics, there is a law of demand and supply. It means when demand is high, prices go up and when production goes up, prices go down. That is my interpretation of how the oil and gas pricing is determined.</p> <p>Don't scream at me because I am not an economist of any sort. However, has any one queried the providers of energy in the UK for raising prices when prices of gas is high and failing to reduce prices when gas prices go down?<br> I even heard on the news recently that they plan to raise it by another 10%.<br> UK is now becoming a state where poverty is compulsorily made of its citizens.</p> <p>Council taxes, petrol taxes, congestion taxes, olympic taxes and it goes on and on.</p> <p>I am not surprised why citizens are moving away from here to other countries. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/gas_prices_stay_up~1457700/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-12-19:/2006/12/19/charging_by_the_mile_in_the_uk_for_motor~1457670/sworkerz2006-12-19T19:19:23+01:002006-12-19T19:19:23+01:00 <p>My country (UK) has already been nominated as one of the most expensive countries in the world.<br>Now let's get serious. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider by the second. Cars as a matter of fact is no more a luxury but an essential part of our lives; rich or poor.<br>If the very rich drive around in Humbers at 5 miles to the gallon, I drive around in my 1.3 vehicle at 37 miles to the gallon.<br>Where we have the likes of Ken (mayor) charging £8.00 to go into the congestion zone, we also have the road taxes going up at every budget speech. We ought not to forget the fuel taxes (that we have even been promised that it will now go up continuosly for the sake of the environment).<br>I have to restrict my energy use because gas has gone up by 30+% and by another little addition within the past year. Although the prices have come down, that of the gas bills have not.<br>What about the electric bills? They have also gone up by 22+% in the past year, blaming the gas prices at the time. Now that gas prices have tumbled, where is the reduction?</p> <p>The Uk has become a country where you cannot have the economic theory of returns. Once a price goes up, it stays up or keeps going up.<br>If and when the pay by the mile comes in, who loses?<br>The poor and not too well off. It is true that capitalism only provides for the rich. I think the bible even said that from the poor it shall be given to the rich. </p> <p>In the city, people have been offered hundreds of thousands in bonuses and their CEOs with millions of pounds in bonues. But when civil servants ask for increments, until there is a strike, we get .1% to 2% increments. This in some cases only amounts to about £50 per annum.<br>Now I ask where would people like these get the money to pay by the mile when the cars they drive is even as old as you can guess.</p> <p>The PM and the ministers do not have to pay for any of these and by the time they are retired or sacked, they are provided with generous pensions and pay offs.</p> <p>So I think that the government is only trying to make the roads become theirs only to use. The obscenely rich included.</p> <p>I do not believe GB for the reasons for his 'green taxes'. He has only just used the bandwagon effect to hit the poor with more taxes.<br>What is the difference between the Tories, Labour or LibDem? NOTHING!<br></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/12/19/charging_by_the_mile_in_the_uk_for_motor~1457670/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-06-17:/2006/06/17/believe_me_honey_it_s_you_i_love_and_not~888504/sworkerz2006-06-17T12:54:27+02:002006-06-17T12:54:27+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=626095"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/095/626095_efbeae9388_s.gif" align="" alt="BIRDZ VERSION 11" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/06/17/believe_me_honey_it_s_you_i_love_and_not~888504/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-06-17:/2006/06/17/it_s_you_i_love_true~888498/sworkerz2006-06-17T12:52:46+02:002006-06-17T12:52:46+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=626096"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/096/626096_efbeae9388_s.gif" align="" alt="BIRDZ VERSION 11" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/06/17/it_s_you_i_love_true~888498/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-06-17:/2006/06/17/title~888489/sworkerz2006-06-17T12:50:57+02:002006-06-17T12:55:11+02:00 <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=626097"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/097/626097_6991893863_s.gif" align="" alt="LONELY BENCH VERSION 1" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/06/17/title~888489/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-06-16:/2006/06/16/money_money_money~887152/sworkerz2006-06-16T20:39:00+02:002006-06-16T20:39:00+02:00 <p>Did you hear the news that councils are now thinking about charging to collect our rubbish so that we can manage our rubbish? What is the ever rising council tax we pay for?<br> Just like rubbish..this idea is rubbish!<br> Arent we burdened with enough taxes here and there? increases in petrol, gas and electric bills? We do not get any increament in wages over 1.??%<br> So I ask where will the money come from? I think these people want a protest or civil disobedience in their hands. We are bleeding from unstoppable increases that is hurting us badly and they appear not to understand. How would they? They have the money and can afford it anyway.<br> How about the TV licence and water increases. I think enough is becoiming enough. We can only take this much!<br> Let the government act before the mass of the people make their silent suffering known openly. Remember te Margaret Thatcher period?<br> Do you agree with me?<br> Let's hear your views because it affects everyone.</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/grayconfused.gif" alt=":??:" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/icon_question.gif" alt=":?:" class="middle" border="0"><img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/06/16/money_money_money~887152/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-29:/2006/04/29/beautiful_london~763799/sworkerz2006-04-29T06:10:42+02:002006-04-29T06:10:42+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=511298"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/298/511298_17d3df0490_t.gif" align="" alt="LIFE SERIES 18 COPY" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/29/beautiful_london~763799/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-29:/2006/04/29/the_london_series~763797/sworkerz2006-04-29T06:09:49+02:002006-04-29T06:09:49+02:00 <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=511299"><img src="http://data1.blog.de/media/299/511299_5ceaf08791_t.gif" align="" alt="LIFE SERIES 19 COPY" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/29/the_london_series~763797/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-24:/2006/04/24/how_healthy_is_nhs~752884/sworkerz2006-04-24T20:11:39+02:002006-04-24T20:14:14+02:00 <p>For the past week now the news headlines have always centred on the NHS coming redundancies following financial problems described to us as 'need for futher modernisation'. The main actors on the political scene are making us understand that it is either 'modernise' or 'die'.</p> <p>Soon after the news hit the headlines we started seeeing the health sector machine swing into action. From news releases, it appears to me that it is making an impact whilst a demonstration match is scheduled for sometime in May. Unison has also indicated a sympathy strike on condition their members are balotted.<br> This blog is linked to my last but one relating to why we need people and infact all social care workers to show interest in what affect us and our profession.</p> <p>Today somewhere I raised similar issue but some of those I discussed this with were not too enthusiastic or found it maybe unreasonable.<br> I wonder why and how this is so.<br> Could it be apathy? Or maybe it did not make any sense.</p> <p>Luckily we now have people of substance taking up social care issues at the centre, does that mean we at our different local levels cannot do anything to raise the people's awareness of what and who we are in terms of our values and what we stand for?</p> <p>Do we have to wait for something bad to happen in the country due to an error on our part with its accompanying bad media reports before we start attemting damage limitation? </p> <p>We must understand that social care at present is at local levels(?) and that appears to be where the centre wants it be. But should this be? What can we do to help, promote and publise ourselves?</p> <p>If 7000 health sectors workers go with all the political inconvience it creates, what then says social care will be make a ripple if this were to be directed at us? </p> <p>By the way, who are these 7000 health care workers that will be going? Would these be foreign nurses whose services are no more required?<br> That will be an interesting thing to find out.<br> Meanwhile, social care workers, go out; scream, shout and use all available sources to carry our our own self-promotion. We need to be able to have an impact.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/24/how_healthy_is_nhs~752884/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-20:/2006/04/20/should_the_association_of_directors_of_s~742231/sworkerz2006-04-20T15:47:05+02:002006-04-20T15:47:05+02:00 <p>I have taken this topic out of the Comminity Care Magazive issue 6-12 April 2006, pgs 28-30.</p> <p>I am raising this issue again and requesting public contibution. Should the ADSS be made more inclusive or remain the way it is?</p> <p>Has the ADSS been as active as it should have been comparatively to others within the health and education?</p> <p>Give your view. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/20/should_the_association_of_directors_of_s~742231/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-20:/2006/04/20/we_must_change_the_way_people_look_at_so~742130/sworkerz2006-04-20T15:08:33+02:002006-04-20T15:08:33+02:00 <p>Community Care will never cease to amaze me with the topics and issues raised in the magazine. I refer to issue 6-12 April 2006 pgs. 16-17.</p> <p>I was happy when I read the news analysis on the above topic. It is very nice to see that we now have people of substance taking up social care issues at the level that is now capable of getting attention at the centre. It is even better to know that Wanless (Wanless Report) will be part of the team to review adult care funding at the DOH.</p> <p>I will argue that this opportunity should not be allowed to fade. Instead, continued pressure through all available means including use of the press should be utilised.<br> The old people of today were the workers and creators of todays wealth. So is the fact that the growing adults of today will be the 'old' adults of tomorrow. We should not forget the popular saying 'what goes round comes around'. They deserve better than they are getting.</p> <p>I will be asking any political party what their policy on social care is. This MUST be as important as health, education and taxes.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/20/we_must_change_the_way_people_look_at_so~742130/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-20:/2006/04/20/we_must_change_the_way_people_look_at_so~742129/sworkerz2006-04-20T15:07:48+02:002006-04-20T15:07:48+02:00 <p>Community Care will never cease to amaze me with the topics and issues raised in the magazine. I refer to issue 6-12 April 2006 pgs. 16-17.</p> <p>I was happy when I read the news analysis on the above topic. It is very nice to see that we now have people of substance taking up social care issues at the level that is now capable of getting attention at the centre. It is even better to know that Wanless (Wanless Report) will be part of the team to review adult care funding at the DOH.</p> <p>I will argue that this opportunity should not be allowed to fade. Instead, continued pressure through all available means including use of the press should be utilised.<br> The old people of today were the workers and creators of todays wealth. So is the fact that the growing adults of today will be the 'old' adults of tomorrow. We should not forget the popular saying 'what goes round comes around'. They deserve better than they are getting.</p> <p>I will be asking any political party what their policy on social care is. This MUST be as important as health, education and taxes.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/20/we_must_change_the_way_people_look_at_so~742129/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-13:/2006/04/13/too_stressed_to_be_stressed~724789/sworkerz2006-04-13T14:11:58+02:002006-04-13T14:17:54+02:00 <p>It is believed(?) that one of the most stressed jobs in the world that also does not pay much can be found within the social care sector. Social workers included.<br> Now you hear all big political spins by the politicians and I quote Jon Glasby (whose book in partnership with Littlechild I was just reading some days back)in Community Care 23.2-2.3.06, pg.34: 'The green paper was social care's day in the sun, now we're back in the shade'.</p> <p>And I stil go to quote his analysis on the 'Our Health, Our Care, Our say'.<br> 'Tony Blair's foreword makes it clear that this is an NHS document with social care only as ''an add on''. His introduction talks of NHS investment, of patients, of doctors, and of waiting lists, with social care only appearing in the final paragraphs - not in its own right but in the context of its potential contribution to NHS priorites. Search the full document electronically, and ''health'' comes up 1,125 times compared with ''social care'' just 305; ''GP'' appears 152 times while ''social work'' gets only 18 mentions; and ''PCTs'' receive 277 references, ''social services'' only 35'.</p> <p>My point is that from Glasby's analysis, it is quite obvious where social workers and social care belong in the arena of priority/importance of New Labour.</p> <p>If you refer to my previous entries, social workers and social care appear to be deliberately being put into extinction. It would therefore seem appropriate to refer to social care and social workers as the 'endangered species'. If we were animals, we would be protected.<br> How the system thinks with such policies as these, retaining social workers or enticing students into the profession would be possible or easy beats my imagination.<br> One of our values is to uphold anti-discriminatory practice in every sphere of our activity. Funny enough, we are the most discriminated.</p> <p>Thanks to all those who are presently engaged in the struggle to push social care into the national political and central arena. RESPECT to these galant people. I will also be doing my own little bit at my blog level.</p> <p>If you have noticed,all issues raised have been taken from Community Care magazine. I will continue to do so on the ground that it is the one I have chosen as the best media on social care/work issues. Thanks and thanks Community Care for as long as I continue using issues raised in your paper to raise further awareness.</p> <p>I will like to read from like minded people and social workers in particular as this blog is dedicated to you and our champions.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/13/too_stressed_to_be_stressed~724789/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-08:/2006/04/08/one_step_forward_two_steps_backward_for_~711675/sworkerz2006-04-08T10:16:57+02:002006-04-08T10:24:09+02:00 <p>In my part one speak, I raised the above subject matter found in the community care magazine. Again this week, some one wrote on the same topic. So, I decided to follow up too. This is topical.<br> This tuition development is becoming quite interesting by the day.<br> I remember one of my social work books that I read which said that 'partnership' is all about power. Social care and health come together. Health is the big player. Social care the little 'David'.<br> It is easy for the politicians to twist words instead of giving a simple yes or no.</p> <p>Now it is becoming clear that the DOH is seeking to put us where we belong, no where they think we belong!<br> People forget that they will become old some day and would need these same social workers who are being thrown to the wolves today!!<br> We work with and for the fulfilment of better life for the less privileged and able.<br> Yet, DOH thinks it is fair to retain the health tuition suport for their nurses whilst those on the social work side cannot.</p> <p>What is the message DOH is sending out to us?<br> Can the health sector do our work plus theirs? Do they do more than we do?<br> Social Workers need to have bits of understanding of medicine, counselling, psychology and many others. In short, we make the less priviledged and able in the society live just that little bit of dignified lives within what we are provided with.<br> Our health colleagues have a one way approach in terms of specialisation, You have headache...panadol is the answer. </p> <p>Thanks again to Gordon Carson writing in the Community Care magaxine 05.04.2006. He writes on the same topic of the DOH favouring their health students and throwing the social workers to the dogs.</p> <p>Is this a deliberate ploy to destroy social workers?<br> DOH, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.</p> <p>Please note, there are people showing keen interest in this. Stop this power play. Stop destroying the social care sector.</p> <p>We are too stressed to be stressed.</p> <p>Let social workers and other like minded people speak out. If we do not speak, no one will and this is becoming obvious.</p> <p>Comments welcome.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/08/one_step_forward_two_steps_backward_for_~711675/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:socailworker.blog.co.uk,2006-04-03:/2006/04/03/one_step_forward_two_steps_backward_of_t~700008/sworkerz2006-04-03T20:43:51+02:002006-04-08T10:25:43+02:00 <p>Since the partnership initiative started, we have seen a lot of changes within the social care sector and in particular, social work.<br> There are the Health Care Trusts (at the National level) with their big budgets and ofcourse the Primary Care Trusts (at the local Goverment levels).</p> <p>There are some people taking on degree programmes and lucky to be funded because they are workers. These particular group of students are referred to as the Employment Based Route Students or EBR in short.</p> <p>The social Work/Care sectors were happy for this development because it encourages those already in the sector to have something to look forward to and as well as learn on how to further develop their skills and knowledge backed with the theoretical aspects that might have been missing. This is good.</p> <p>I see that there is the encouragement for people to take on both social work and health care professions. The reason behind is not far fetched. People are leaving and the short-term way out was to recruit from abroad and in the long-term train locally. It appears that this is where it stops.</p> <p>Thanks to the Community Care magazine 23-29 March 2006, a leaked letter from the DOH to all social work degree programme heads said undergraduates starting the courses from this September will face variable tuition fees.</p> <p>This plan if true blows my mind. How can this happen when it is an open secret that there is shortage of social workers. They are obviously low paid for the amount of stressful and thankless work they do.</p> <p>Community Care magazine worked it out that if one earns £20,000 the payment will be £450 per year as pay back for the debt. I work this out to be payable for the next 20 years.</p> <p>Common DOH, Social Workers are stressed enough. How do you think people will want to take on this profession when they are being asked to go in with their eyes open into a 20-year debt? </p> <p>Let's hear your views on this?<br> Please refrain from any unprofessional or insulting remarks. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://socailworker.blog.co.uk/2006/04/03/one_step_forward_two_steps_backward_of_t~700008/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>