“Times
they are a-changing”. I know this is a cry that is heard
perpetually throughout time, but never sung better than by Dylan!!
Often associated with the cry are shouts of “and not for
the better” which themselves are countered by allegations
of the lament being seen through “rose coloured spectacles”.
How
do we know which is true? Both are probably. We are witnessing
change on a day-by-day basis and over time. We have been remembering
the miners’ strike of twenty years ago and the structural
changes since that time to the economy, the public services and
its underlying philosophical basis have been changed for good.
We also hear the Prime Minister talk of the change that has happened
in terms of external threats to our security and how individuals,
governments and wider collaborative partnerships across nation
states need to be alert to counter such threats.
I
remember participating in some training when I worked in a Local
Authority Social Services Department. The Authority was undergoing
some major structural change and the Chief Executive was keen
to instil values of openness, a person-centred approach, cross-departmental
co-operation. Important stuff. Senior people from different departments
came together to participate in workshops, seminars and role-play
stretching over two days. I remember the role-play! We were allocated
new personas in an imaginary department faced with implementing
change. I was fortunate enough to be a grass-roots worker and
was on the receiving end of the change outcomes.
The
outcome of all of this was obviously clear. Those at the top of
the imaginary structure accepted the change and appreciated the
reasons for the change and the benefits that would flow. My life,
however, seemed unaffected. The benefit I experienced was minimal.
I still had a bureaucracy to wade through, I still had no resources
to call on, and I still had inadequate supervision and training
opportunities.
So,
what do we make of the changes that are being announced as to
the structure of Social Service Departments and a new post of
Children’s Commissioner? I think they are to be welcomed
and the opportunities that they offer are positive. But, the changes
will not have the impact they deserve to have if some underlying
tensions are not faced up to.
The
tensions are :
-
Lack of social workers : especially in children’s services
there is a very serious shortfall in the number of qualified workers
engaged in front line activity.
-
A move away from an over reliance on process to a recognition
that social workers are actively involved in encouraging change
with the people they are working with.
-
More resources to be introduced so that practice is not always
based on “fire alarm” criteria.
There are some signs that this may be happening. I understand
there is to be a campaign to recruit more social workers and some
authorities have implemented imaginative ways of recruiting and
maintaining staff. Some additional resources have been identified
for the changes, which are coming.
What
needs to happen, as well, however is a re-energising of the grass
roots. The frontline worker has to be given clear evidence that
they have both an important role to play and their voices have
to be heard.
