Consistency is the name of the game.
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A necessary lifeline!
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Amid the concentration this year on Brexit and coronavirus, and with a focus on the NHS and its 72nd anniversary, another significant anniversary is passing by with little recognition. It is 50 years since a unified profession of social work was established across the United Kingdom, and 50 years since the creation of integrated local authority personal social services in England and Wales.
Before 1970 there were eight separate membership organisations for different specialist social workers, including child care officers, mental welfare officers and what were called moral welfare officers. There were also separate council children’s, welfare and mental health departments, with psychiatric and medical social workers employed by the NHS.
The 1970 implementation of the 1968 Seebohm Report’s recommendations brought together this patchwork of competing services into one local social services department. There was also the creation of one professional qualification relevant for all social workers and the creation of the British Association of Social Workers, which provided a unified professional organisation.
It was a time of hope and promise that social work and personal social services would have the opportunity to make a greater contribution within the welfare state. It was an aspiration that, during the past half-century, has led to demonstrable achievements, with social workers at the forefront of five particularly significant changes.
In 1970 there was still a dependence on the big 19th-century institutions that incarcerated people with mental health and learning difficulties in county asylums.
For older people there were geriatric wards in what were the old Poor Law workhouses, rebadged as community hospitals. And for younger people with physical impairment the only assistance outside the family was to move into residential care homes provided by charities. Babies and young children were still being cared for in residential nurseries of up to 40 children, and older children and young people were living in homes of 120 children or more and in cottage villages with their own school and sanatorium.
Social workers and personal social services in the 1980s and 1990s were at the centre of the closure of these big, isolating institutions and led the move towards help within families and communities.
Second, prompted, prodded and pushed by disabled people, it was social services departments that moved ahead with making cash payments available to disabled people even before legislation made doing so legal and legitimate. What is now called “personalisation” had its roots in the actions and activities of social workers in the 1990s.
Third, social work moved ahead more quickly than many other occupations in changing from “expert knows best” to working in partnership alongside disabled people and others. There was an increasing emphasis on enabling and facilitating in alliance with disabled people, who were empowering themselves to have more choice and control.
Fourth, social workers shaped the 1989 Children Act, which enshrined the concept of “children in need” and promoted working in partnership with parents and providing help for families getting into difficulty. Indeed a former social worker, Virginia Bottomley, was the secretary of state who oversaw the act’s implementation. It is still the primary legislation providing the statutory framework for children’s social services.
Fifth, social workers have been at the forefront of a widening understanding about child safety and protection. Fifty years ago there was recognition of what was called “battered baby syndrome” and a concentration on physical abuse. Subsequent decades have seen child protection concerns broadened to include sexual abuse within families and institutions; awareness of the impact of neglect; recognition of emotional abuse; then the focus on sexual exploitation and networked abuse.
Today, however, the time and tasks of social workers have been skewed too much to child and adult protection and to rationing diminishing help as a consequence of a decade of austerity. Risk management and rationing have trumped building relationships and creating and deploying resources.
One consequence of the continuing year-on-year cuts since 2010 is workforce instability, difficulty in retaining experienced social workers and a high turnover of top managers and leaders, especially in children’s services. The frustration of not being able to practise well with time squeezed – and the urgency to close work down so new referrals can be taken on – hits morale and confidence. Some local authorities are bucking the trend, while others are buckling under the pressure, but it is getting harder for all.
Despite the rhetoric during the coronavirus crisis about the importance of key workers and public services, the government continues to favour the big outsourcing companies and leave local authorities stranded and struggling to fulfil crucial statutory responsibilities.
But if there is one overriding message from the past 50 years for social workers, it is that by being professionally and collectively committed and active, they can contribute to shaping positive change.
Ray Jones is emeritus professor of social work at Kingston University and a social worker who was a director of social services for 14 years. His new book A History of the Personal Social Services in England is published by Palgrave Macmillan
It’s so easy to make homemade bread crumbs out of almost any leftover bread you have – a crusty sourdough loaf, hot dog or hamburger buns, dinner rolls, sandwich bread, and more! Don’t let those bread ends or leftover stale bread go to waste. Just cube it up, blitz it in the food processor, and you have fresh bread crumbs! Want dried bread crumbs? Just bake them in the oven for a few minutes and you’re good to go.
Once you realize how fast it is to make your own homemade bread crumbs, you many never go back to store bought again. In mere minutes you can have fresh bread crumbs ready to go. And with only a few more minutes, you’ll have homemade dried bread crumbs that will stay good for a couple weeks in the pantry!
And you only need ONE ingredient – you guessed it! Bread, of almost any kind.
Why you should make your own bread crumbs
Whenever I make something I can easily buy at the store from scratch, I always weigh the pros and cons. Is it worth it for a busy person such as yourself to make your own bread crumbs at home?
…GET THE RECIPE for How to Make Bread Crumbs (Fresh or Dried)!
Though summer travel is winding down, planning a great getaway with the family is still possible. Fall weekends are a great time to get away! The weather is still good, prices go down at many popular summer destinations, and crowd levels drop exponentially. It’s a perfect time to grab a portable booster seat, hop on a plane, and head to a fantastic destination.
Safety First!
Before you get ready to head out on your fall weekend getaway, be sure that you’re prepared to keep your family safe as you travel. Pack medications and first aid items that you might need along the way. If driving, check the fluids and tire pressure in the car, to be sure you’ll be safe on the road. Make sure that you have a portable booster seat that is easy to use to save money and keep kids safe when using rental cars, public transportation, or other modes of travel.
Choose a Great Destination
When choosing a destination for your fall weekend getaway, you might want to think a little differently than you do for your summer vacations. Though heading south to a warm beach is always a fun choice, there is more to explore in the fall. Consider state and national park areas that have hiking trails through beautiful fall foliage. The whole family will enjoy seeing the wonders of the fall season in the stunning colors of changing leaves.
Pack Wisely
When packing for your fall family weekend, do a little research on the typical weather at your destination. Fall weather can be a little tricky in many areas, so be prepared for unseasonably warm or cool days and pack layers of clothing. Consider any activities or excursions that you have planned for your trip and be sure that you have appropriate shoes and attire. Also make sure to pack plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained along the way!
Look for Seasonal Discounts
Check the special packages and discounts offered at various hotels in the area. Many times in summer destination locations, hotels offer packages with attraction tickets or discounts, meals, and other goodies to entice people to visit during the off season. In many cases, these packages can add up to make fall travel extremely affordable! They also introduce you to local restaurants, museums, and other fun things to do that you may otherwise overlook.
About the BubbleBum Portable Booster Seat
The BubbleBum Portable Booster Seat is a great item to have on hand for travel, whether it’s a fall getaway, extended summer vacation, or just an outing around town. This easy to inflate backless booster seat fits children from ages 4-11 (40-100 lbs). It’s simple to carry along in a backpack or purse, making it perfect to use in a rental car, public transportation, bus, train, or for cab rides. Its compact design allows you to safely fit three across the backseat in most standard vehicles.
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Chocolate Lover’s Valentine Gift Basket
California Delicious offers their customers a huge assortment of beautiful gift baskets. They have gift baskets for every occasion from Birthday’s to Valentine’s Day.
I recently had the opportunity to work with California Delicious and review one of the amazing gift baskets that they have to offer. We were sent a Chocolate Lover’s Valentine Gift Basket to review free of charge. This is the perfect basket for any chocoholic!
I was very excited when I found out that I would be reviewing the Chocolate Lover’s Valentine Gift Basket. The basket is filled with a huge variety of Ghirardelli Chocolates. The first thing I noticed about the basket is how beautiful the basket is wrapped and dressed for Valentine’s day. From a heart ribbon and a big bow it is ready to go. The next thing I noticed is how full the basket is. The basket is definitely ready for Valentine’s day. The dark red basket is the perfect accent to the Valentine’s Day theme.
What was included in our basket?
Ghiradelli Dark 60% Cacao 5.25 ounce bag of chocolates
Ghiradelli Dark & Raspberry 5.32 ounce bag of chocolates
Ghiradelli Milk & Caramel 5.32 ounce bag of chocolates
Ghiradelli Hot Chocolate Mix
Ghiradelli Milk & Caramel 3.5 ounce chocolate bar
Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark 3 ounce chocolate bar
Classic Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel Cookies (2 ounces)
If you are looking for the perfect gift for that special Valentine this year I highly suggest purchasing from California Delicious! They have gifts for everyone’s budget and you will not be disappointed. The Chocolate Lover’s Valentine Gift Basket retails for $59.99. I placed my order on Friday and it arrived on Monday. I have to say that is faster than other gift baskets that I have purchased in the past. The quality of the basket is above and beyond the other baskets I have purchased as well.
If you would like more information or if you would like to purchase a Chocolate Lover’s Valentine Gift Basket, please visit the California Delicious Website. If you would like a California Delicious catalog you can request one here. Be sure to stay up to date on all of the latest news and products from California Delicious by following their social media pages on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. While you are there, be sure to follow Mom Blog Society on Facebook.
Disclaimer: Mom Blog Society received product free of charge to write our review. All opinions stated in our review are our own truthfully opinion and were not influenced by the sponsor or from getting the review product free of charge. We were in no way compensated for our review or opinion.
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