Lessons Will Be Learned and other detested phrases, and why ?

[G#Gill]

Has anybody else got a loathing for a particular saying, and why?

"Lessons will be learned !"

This is the most irritating of all phrases, to me, at the moment! Example:- UK Social Services - although a small child is on their 'At Risk' list and should be regularly monitored, they fail to keep a regular check on this child, and also do not insist on physically seeing this child, on a regular basis. Then they wonder how that child managed to die at the hands of it's 'parents' ! Case comes to court, and what do Social Services say? ---------------------- 'LESSONS WILL BE LEARNED !"

But they are obviously not ! Because, in the blink of an eye, another child dies through ignorance, ill-treatment, neglect, starvation, brutality ! So it will go on .................

Lessons never seem to be learned do they ?

[Snowfire]

Lessons are all too often learned too late whenever the welfare of children are concerned

At least that odious Shoesmith wont be lining her pockets. Maybe she will vanish into thin air now instead of chasing for a payout

[G#Gill]

Snowfire;1305653 wrote: Lessons are all too often learned too late whenever the welfare of children are concerned

At least that odious Shoesmith wont be lining her pockets. Maybe she will vanish into thin air now instead of chasing for a payout


But, Snowfire, are they really learned????? These things happen repeatedly and they always say the same damn thing 'Lessons will be learned' makes me sick !:-5

[Peg]

I agree Gill. They say it, it happens again, they say it again, it happens again, etc. If lessons were truly learned, the cycle would not keep repeating.

[Ahso!]

What is the ratio of social worker to child in the UK?

[Odie]

It's the same here also Gill.

If kids are at risk? take them away from their parents then....:-5

[G#Gill]

Ahso!;1305686 wrote: What is the ratio of social worker to child in the UK?


Not enough social workers at all. But that does not excuse them when they do actually make a visit on a 'child at risk' they should insist that they physically see that child and not be fobbed off with stupid excuses, and if necessary ask for the assistance of a police officer!

[Ahso!]

G#Gill;1305695 wrote: Not enough social workers at all. But that does not excuse them when they do actually make a visit on a 'child at risk' they should insist that they physically see that child and not be fobbed off with stupid excuses, and if necessary ask for the assistance of a police officer! :(What are the stupid excuses you mean? If a social worker shows up at a house unannounced and is told the child is away or out with friends, what is it you think the social worker should do?

I have family members involved in this field in the U.S. and I've been told the case loads are so disproportionate its staggering. Many people have been leaving the field because of lack of pay, overwhelming case loads and what they witness. Theres a fine line when talking about when to separate families, and that becomes a default response too often.

I've been looking for actual ratio numbers for both the UK an U.S. and I'm having difficulty finding the info.

[G#Gill]

Ahso!;1305696 wrote: What are the stupid excuses you mean? If a social worker shows up at a house unannounced and is told the child is away or out with friends, what is it you think the social worker should do?

I have family members involved in this field in the U.S. and I've been told the case loads are so disproportionate its staggering. Many people have been leaving the field because of lack of pay, overwhelming case loads and what they witness. Theres a fine line when talking about when to separate families, and that becomes a default response too often.

I've been looking for actual ratio numbers for both the UK an U.S. and I'm having difficulty finding the info.


I'm sure you are !

[theia]

Ahso!;1305696 wrote: What are the stupid excuses you mean? If a social worker shows up at a house unannounced and is told the child is away or out with friends, what is it you think the social worker should do?

I have family members involved in this field in the U.S. and I've been told the case loads are so disproportionate its staggering. Many people have been leaving the field because of lack of pay, overwhelming case loads and what they witness. Theres a fine line when talking about when to separate families, and that becomes a default response too often.

I've been looking for actual ratio numbers for both the UK an U.S. and I'm having difficulty finding the info.


I think you make some very good points, Ahso.

[beowulf]

i would love to be a social worker but i have something against me...........i have too much common sense :rolleyes:

[G#Gill]

theia;1305724 wrote: I think you make some very good points, Ahso.


Actually, so do I. As regards the first highlighted point, the social worker should ask if they could come in and have a look at the child's room, and if it is refused, then there should be rules in place where a social worker can get an access permit from a higher authority (in UK probably a magistrate) and return to that house, gain access legally and carry out a proper inspection and check, including probably the child that the parents lied had been 'out' (if lie it was). Unfortunately, I believe there is no such 'back-up' to cover such a contingency, in the UK. Perhaps it would be a good idea to introduce such a rule/law, and soon, then maybe such 'excuses' will be to no avail. Maybe, as well, this 'warrant' could be automatically made available prior to a visit, in cases where the social worker believes that access will be refused, so that they have the 'warrant' in their possession when they make their visit to the child's house.

I am sure that fear of violence plays a big part in why many people are leaving their jobs as social workers, not just comparatively poor salaries and long working hours.

[G#Gill]

Another phrase that makes me squirm is 'I love you all' by some 'celebrity' gushing with total insincerity at the end of his/her 'spot' onstage. Do they really mean that? Of course they don't ! It's much more believable if the so-called 'celebrity' said something like "Thank you very much, you've been a great audience!" :rolleyes:

[Peter Lake]

Ahso!;1305686 wrote: What is the ratio of social worker to child in the UK? It would be a constant change of figures due to the total of children being put on and taken off the at risk register probably daily.

[chonsigirl]

"Me bad" earns a 5 minute detention at lunchtime from me, I do not know why they think it is a cute phrase.:rolleyes:

[Bryn Mawr]

Ahso!;1305696 wrote: What are the stupid excuses you mean? If a social worker shows up at a house unannounced and is told the child is away or out with friends, what is it you think the social worker should do?

I have family members involved in this field in the U.S. and I've been told the case loads are so disproportionate its staggering. Many people have been leaving the field because of lack of pay, overwhelming case loads and what they witness. Theres a fine line when talking about when to separate families, and that becomes a default response too often.

I've been looking for actual ratio numbers for both the UK an U.S. and I'm having difficulty finding the info.


The obvious thing is to make a fixed appointment in the very near future to see the child and the more they resist, the more urgent it is. The answer is not to walk away and just record it in the log.

Although by no means complete figures, the British Association of Social Workers has 12,500 members and appears to run at about 12 cases per worker so three or four hours per case per week on average.

[Ahso!]

Remedies seem obvious and easy to us, but imagine yourself sitting at that desk with worker after worker coming into you at the end of the day hitting you with scenario after scenario of actuality. Then try making easy decisions within the confines and restrictions of laws and protocol.

Social work is one hard MFing job.

[G#Gill]

There's no need to use semi disguised profanities Ahso, particularly that one! It has just ruined your post, as far as I am concerned.

[Bryn Mawr]

Ahso!;1306216 wrote: Remedies seem obvious and easy to us, but imagine yourself sitting at that desk with worker after worker coming into you at the end of the day hitting you with scenario after scenario of actuality. Then try making easy decisions within the confines and restrictions of laws and protocol.

Social work is one hard MFing job.


Remedies are obvious and are written down in standard operating procedures so that stressed out, overworked people don't have to make decisions, just follow due process.

[Ahso!]

Bryn Mawr;1306495 wrote: Remedies are obvious and are written down in standard operating procedures so that stressed out, overworked people don't have to make decisions, just follow due process......Theoretically speaking!

[Bryn Mawr]

Ahso!;1306565 wrote: ...Theoretically speaking!


In what way do you feel that this is not a practical solution to the problem you raised?

[albertpollard]

"I'm from the Government. We are here to help you."

And they say it as if they mean it!

[G#Gill]

albertpollard;1307056 wrote: "I'm from the Government. We are here to help you."

And they say it as if they mean it!


:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl:yh_rotfl