Fight Against The Social Service, BAAF, CAFCASS
and The Family Law Court In The UK!
Join ‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Meet Others Going Through What your Going Through!
Friendly and Helpful Members, Why Not Come and Join!
Archive for October 24th, 2007
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0471.htm
Needs assessments, housing claims, benefit problems, children with behavioural issues… these are the staple diet of a social worker. But they are also familiar territory to ward councillors, the 21,000-strong army of local government activists.
“Many people who come to me with their problems regard me as a kind of halfway house,” says Sarah Richardson, a Conservative councillor in Westminster “They may feel intimidated by the prospect of approaching social services and going through all the checks and formalities. I’m still part of the council but I’m also right there in their community and they feel they can talk to me.”
Richardson is a cabinet member for children’s services and a councillor in the Churchill ward of Westminster, where 60% of the people are from ethnic minorities. Her ward covers three major housing estates, which sit alongside row upon row of expensive, privately-owned Georgian town houses. She holds bi-monthly surgeries that give residents the opportunity to meet their councillor and discuss their concerns.
“Some people who come to see us already have social workers or are known to the council in some way,” says Richardson. “But there are lots of others who are on the cusp, who perhaps should be receiving more services but are not aware of their rights.
“They see us as their first port of call. This is helped by the fact that I live in the community and I’ve been a councillor for five years. We often know the same people and they feel more comfortable telling me things than a more impersonal department.”
Rob Banks, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Oval ward in Lambeth, sees the full gamut of human experience at his weekly surgeries. He recently spoke to a man who was on the run from his wife’s family and was sleeping rough.
Ensuring fair treatment
“Because I know how the council works and whom to speak to, I was able to pick up the phone and arrange shelter for him,” Banks says. “I certainly can’t solve every problem. But I can try to ensure people are fairly and adequately treated by the council.”
Other cases Banks has dealt with involve housing issues, residents being kept awake by loud music, and an older resident being stung by a large Supporting People bill from the council.
“Most people who come to see me have already been down the council service route and have not been satisfied with the response and they’re not sure where to turn next,” he says. “As an opposition member, I don’t have a huge amount of power. But I can get the council to look again at a decision they’ve made or get them to review a case.”
So how does a hard-working councillor, often juggling a full-time job in addition to their civic duties, prioritise their work when confronted with aggrieved residents? And do their actions help or hinder local social workers, who may already be struggling with large caseloads and insufficient resources?
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0471.htm
Needs assessments, housing claims, benefit problems, children with behavioural issues… these are the staple diet of a social worker. But they are also familiar territory to ward councillors, the 21,000-strong army of local government activists.
“Many people who come to me with their problems regard me as a kind of halfway house,” says Sarah Richardson, a Conservative councillor in Westminster “They may feel intimidated by the prospect of approaching social services and going through all the checks and formalities. I’m still part of the council but I’m also right there in their community and they feel they can talk to me.”
Richardson is a cabinet member for children’s services and a councillor in the Churchill ward of Westminster, where 60% of the people are from ethnic minorities. Her ward covers three major housing estates, which sit alongside row upon row of expensive, privately-owned Georgian town houses. She holds bi-monthly surgeries that give residents the opportunity to meet their councillor and discuss their concerns.
“Some people who come to see us already have social workers or are known to the council in some way,” says Richardson. “But there are lots of others who are on the cusp, who perhaps should be receiving more services but are not aware of their rights.
“They see us as their first port of call. This is helped by the fact that I live in the community and I’ve been a councillor for five years. We often know the same people and they feel more comfortable telling me things than a more impersonal department.”
Rob Banks, a Liberal Democrat councillor for the Oval ward in Lambeth, sees the full gamut of human experience at his weekly surgeries. He recently spoke to a man who was on the run from his wife’s family and was sleeping rough.
Ensuring fair treatment
“Because I know how the council works and whom to speak to, I was able to pick up the phone and arrange shelter for him,” Banks says. “I certainly can’t solve every problem. But I can try to ensure people are fairly and adequately treated by the council.”
Other cases Banks has dealt with involve housing issues, residents being kept awake by loud music, and an older resident being stung by a large Supporting People bill from the council.
“Most people who come to see me have already been down the council service route and have not been satisfied with the response and they’re not sure where to turn next,” he says. “As an opposition member, I don’t have a huge amount of power. But I can get the council to look again at a decision they’ve made or get them to review a case.”
So how does a hard-working councillor, often juggling a full-time job in addition to their civic duties, prioritise their work when confronted with aggrieved residents? And do their actions help or hinder local social workers, who may already be struggling with large caseloads and insufficient resources?
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0470.htm
PARENTS whose baby was stillborn say they will not rest until Health and Social Services apologises for the death of their infant son. Steve and Louise Honey blame Princess Elizabeth Hospital staff for blunders they say led to the death of baby Dean. The aggrieved couple insist their concerns were not addressed at the time and have demanded answers. The department said there would be an internal investigation before referral to an external body, should that be deemed necessary. Speaking after visiting baby Dean for the last time at a funeral parlour, father Mr Honey said: ‘I appreciate what Health is doing, but it is not enough. We will not give up until they apologise for Dean’s death,’ he said. ‘We haven’t had any offers of help, but we will pay for an advocate ourselves if we have to. This is our son’s life we are talking about. ‘We have had a lot of calls of support from people, including one lady from the UK who said she had exactly the same thing happen to her two years ago in Guernsey. ‘She said she got an official apology from Health and told us to carry on fighting and we will.’ The devastated couple claim PEH staff ignored their concerns before the birth and accused them of poor treatment during the birth itself. Health minister Peter Roffey offered his sympathy to the couple but pointed out that an investigation was standard practice following a complaint.
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0469.htm
A new health watchdog is to be set up by the government with wide-ranging powers to tackle hospital bugs. It comes as ministers struggle to meet a target for next year of cutting MRSA and are grappling with rising rates of Clostridium difficile. The Care Quality Commission will have the power to close wards and order more frequent checks. It replaces the Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission and Mental Health Act Commission. The watchdog will focus on safety and quality across health and adult social care services, in both the NHS and the independent sector. In particular it will be able to close services that are unsafe, or where there is some other serious breach which is putting patients at risk. But it will also be able to hand out fines, launch investigations and issue warnings where necessary. Many of the powers are already available to the existing regulators, but ministers hope tougher action will be taken by merging the responsibilities into one body. The Care Quality Commission will also have an important role in supporting patient choice, through assessing and providing information on the performance of providers of adult social care and health care, and in ensuring value for taxpayers’ money. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the emphasis reflects the fact tackling infection remains “a challenge”. “I am determined that we will take action where necessary to safeguard patients and ensure staff feel able to report concerns.”
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0468.htm
Common measures to protect children from sex crimes, abuse and bullying should be introduced across Ireland and Britain, Gerry Kelly said today. The call came after the Sinn Fein Junior Minister met Children`s Commissioner Patricia Lewsley in Belfast to discuss her hopes for the programme for government. Mr Kelly said: “We are very much for making sure that child protection is at the core of all of this and we want to take an all-island approach to it and also an east west and European approach. “The issue is too important to be looked at alone and we have already raised this with the different regions and countries and we continue to do so.” A recent Assembly debate raised concern that paedophiles were not subject to the same level of monitoring in the Republic of Ireland, leaving children in Northern Ireland vulnerable. Almost 30 representatives of young people today met with Mr Kelly. “The UN Convention of Human Rights is the basis on which to move forward,” he added. “This was our first meeting, it was very helpful because it was very focused and we were agreed to continue so that the sector can help us and we can help them in terms of their needs.” He said he wanted to set up a group involving a number of ministers to address children`s issues. There is also a ten-year strategy and action plan to address the matter.
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0470.htm
PARENTS whose baby was stillborn say they will not rest until Health and Social Services apologises for the death of their infant son. Steve and Louise Honey blame Princess Elizabeth Hospital staff for blunders they say led to the death of baby Dean. The aggrieved couple insist their concerns were not addressed at the time and have demanded answers. The department said there would be an internal investigation before referral to an external body, should that be deemed necessary. Speaking after visiting baby Dean for the last time at a funeral parlour, father Mr Honey said: ‘I appreciate what Health is doing, but it is not enough. We will not give up until they apologise for Dean’s death,’ he said. ‘We haven’t had any offers of help, but we will pay for an advocate ourselves if we have to. This is our son’s life we are talking about. ‘We have had a lot of calls of support from people, including one lady from the UK who said she had exactly the same thing happen to her two years ago in Guernsey. ‘She said she got an official apology from Health and told us to carry on fighting and we will.’ The devastated couple claim PEH staff ignored their concerns before the birth and accused them of poor treatment during the birth itself. Health minister Peter Roffey offered his sympathy to the couple but pointed out that an investigation was standard practice following a complaint.
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0469.htm
A new health watchdog is to be set up by the government with wide-ranging powers to tackle hospital bugs. It comes as ministers struggle to meet a target for next year of cutting MRSA and are grappling with rising rates of Clostridium difficile. The Care Quality Commission will have the power to close wards and order more frequent checks. It replaces the Commission for Social Care Inspection, Healthcare Commission and Mental Health Act Commission. The watchdog will focus on safety and quality across health and adult social care services, in both the NHS and the independent sector. In particular it will be able to close services that are unsafe, or where there is some other serious breach which is putting patients at risk. But it will also be able to hand out fines, launch investigations and issue warnings where necessary. Many of the powers are already available to the existing regulators, but ministers hope tougher action will be taken by merging the responsibilities into one body. The Care Quality Commission will also have an important role in supporting patient choice, through assessing and providing information on the performance of providers of adult social care and health care, and in ensuring value for taxpayers’ money. Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the emphasis reflects the fact tackling infection remains “a challenge”. “I am determined that we will take action where necessary to safeguard patients and ensure staff feel able to report concerns.”
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0468.htm
Common measures to protect children from sex crimes, abuse and bullying should be introduced across Ireland and Britain, Gerry Kelly said today. The call came after the Sinn Fein Junior Minister met Children`s Commissioner Patricia Lewsley in Belfast to discuss her hopes for the programme for government. Mr Kelly said: “We are very much for making sure that child protection is at the core of all of this and we want to take an all-island approach to it and also an east west and European approach. “The issue is too important to be looked at alone and we have already raised this with the different regions and countries and we continue to do so.” A recent Assembly debate raised concern that paedophiles were not subject to the same level of monitoring in the Republic of Ireland, leaving children in Northern Ireland vulnerable. Almost 30 representatives of young people today met with Mr Kelly. “The UN Convention of Human Rights is the basis on which to move forward,” he added. “This was our first meeting, it was very helpful because it was very focused and we were agreed to continue so that the sector can help us and we can help them in terms of their needs.” He said he wanted to set up a group involving a number of ministers to address children`s issues. There is also a ten-year strategy and action plan to address the matter.
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Why Not Come And Join The
‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
Full Details:
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Fight Against The Social Service, BAAF, CAFCASS
and The Family Law Court In TheUK!
Join ‘Stop Injustice Now’ Forum:
http://justice001.suddenlaunch3.com/index.cgi
Meet Others Going Through What your Going Through!
Friendly and Helpful Members, Why Not Come and Join!
