Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #CareReview
Most recents (12)
Government have announced long-term plans for children’s social care, which includes a £25 million investment for the retention and recruitment of foster carers.
This is much needed - we are losing vital foster carers who help 70% of children in the care system.
#CareReview
This is much needed - we are losing vital foster carers who help 70% of children in the care system.
#CareReview
Members felt allowances were the key thing missing from the #CareReview.
Government have applied an above inflationary increase to the national minimum allowance following our #TheCostofFostering campaign, helping foster carers to continue doing their best for our young people.
Government have applied an above inflationary increase to the national minimum allowance following our #TheCostofFostering campaign, helping foster carers to continue doing their best for our young people.
The Fostering Network are delighted that our Mockingbird programme will feature as part of the package of retention support for foster carers.
We look forward to working with Government in the months ahead to ensure more foster families can benefit from the model.
#CareReview
We look forward to working with Government in the months ahead to ensure more foster families can benefit from the model.
#CareReview
#Advocacy thread.
A key recommendation in the @reviewCSC is for there to be independent, opt-out advocacy.
Implementation of this would be globally ground-breaking and a vg safeguard for children's rights.
#CareReview 🧵
A key recommendation in the @reviewCSC is for there to be independent, opt-out advocacy.
Implementation of this would be globally ground-breaking and a vg safeguard for children's rights.
#CareReview 🧵
It is confusing, difficult and sometimes traumatic entering care. An #independentadvocate is there to be on the child's side. It is someone to represent their needs and wishes so that they are central in making and reviewing care plans.
Running @whocaresscot I saw firsthand how advocacy was a life-line for people in the most vulnerable situations. It gave them hope and built trust when they saw they were heard.
Having a voice over decisions that affect you is a cornerstone of children's rights.
Having a voice over decisions that affect you is a cornerstone of children's rights.
A personal 🧵 on my thoughts following today’s publication of England’s #CareReview👇
On Friday 15th February 2021, the then @educationgovuk secretary @GavinWilliamson launched the much anticipated Independent Review of Social Care in England. 1/
On Friday 15th February 2021, the then @educationgovuk secretary @GavinWilliamson launched the much anticipated Independent Review of Social Care in England. 1/
The review commenced less than two months later on 1st March, following @JoshMacAlister being appointed as the ‘independent’ chair. A huge role given the bar had already been set incredibly high following the publication of Scotland’s Independent Care Review in Feb 2020. 2/
The commitment to an independent review was part of the @Conservatives election manifesto in 2019, but many folk have campaigned for such a review for many years. It’s long been acknowledged the “system” has not been fit for purpose for quite sometime. 3/ childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/2020/11/24/ann…
Based on what we know about Josh MacAlister, I think we can safely say there are a number of areas/orgs/people that will avoid any scrutiny under his #carereview.
Here's a few we can pretty much guarantee will escape any challenge (add your own!):
Here's a few we can pretty much guarantee will escape any challenge (add your own!):
The most obvious is Frontline, an organisation MacAlister founded with support from Michael Gove and acted as CEO until last year. Now the self-professed largest social work charity in England, and the largest social work qualifying programme in the country. No chance of scrutiny
Chief Social Worker, Isabelle Trowler, who was appointed by Gove in the same announcement as Frontline's initial funding & has been in the role almost a decade. Trowler helped design Frontline & has been a major supporter of MacAlister within the DfE. Expect no scrutiny.
To the surprise of no one, the government announced (through a pre-procurement notice) today that it will be extending the contract of social work fast-track Frontline, and likely it will be expanding (as each new contract has). There's a lot to unpick, so strap in. A thread 1/16
The full pre-procurement notice can be found at this link. While technically it will be an open tender, for all intents and purposes its an extension to Frontline, and much like previous contracts will be tailored to their model to ensure they win it 2/16
bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W…
bidstats.uk/tenders/2021/W…
If you would like more info about how the UK procurement process is biased in favour of large established providers, including through tailor made contracts, this study is good. Such waste of time/resources for what amounts to pantomime of competition 3/16
demos.co.uk/project/value-…
demos.co.uk/project/value-…
An NAAS Thread: In the likely event the National Assessment and Accreditation System (NAAS) rears its ugly head through the #carereview, a reminder of some of the many issues. The NAAS has been such a trainwreck I have likely missed some so please add more @carereviewwatch 1/14
First the obvious points to make. It adds more work to already overworked social workers. There is no evidence that it improves practice in any way. At a time of scare resources it is outrageously expensive. Regardless of how often they repeat it, it is a test, not CPD! 2/14
It is not supported by social workers, with only 10% of BASW supporting it, and being subject to a Social Work Union Boycott. ADCS, JSWEC and others also raised serious concerns. basw.co.uk/media/news/201… 3/14
Josh MacAlister has publicly criticised child protection social workers for being overreaching and intrusive, institutionally biased against families.
His #carereview wants to halt the "runaway train" of child protection, which he blames for taking too many children and young people into care.
This is a huge call for a review which has been in place for just three months and is thinly staffed. But the direction of travel is clear. Social workers should back off.
1. …drenssocialcare.independent-review.uk/engagement-eve… Utterly as expected. Where is the recognition of children with disabilities & special educational needs? How will the Review address the views of the homeless, those in custody, those in poverty in the community? etc >
2. It says it won't be looking at the past experiences of care experienced people,only looking to the future. It fails to recognise that only by looking to the past can the future unfold. It will address the online community & those who complete surveys, leaving out most people>
3. The #carereview will rely on existing charities some of whom may be perceived as part of the problem, or rely on others to represent people. Why not a group specially formed to access the care community, as Scotland did.>
1. I regret the use of the term "care experienced' to describe people who may have worked for a while in the care sector. This term has been hijacked from those with genuine childhood lived experience of state care #carereview >
2. It matters because terms like 'care experienced" & indeed "experts by experience" may be used by #carereview to describe consultation & engagement. Those who grew up as kids in state care are used to those terms being used to describe the care community & think it means them>
3. In reality, the review team may be deliberately choosing to use these labels to include professionals, carers & families, all of whom may have very difference opinions & experiences of the care system to those who lived in it. A sleight of hand perhaps? >
1. article39.org.uk/childrens-soci… I was told again yesterday that I must support the #carereview as the govt were not going to change the Chair, he was not going to step down & it was going ahead. It would be the "only show in town" so I had to "get behind" it even if it was not ideal >
2. article39.org.uk/childrens-soci…. I reject that. The Chair was a political appointment that can still be changed. The @article_39 letter signed by so many distinguished organisations & individuals recognises that. For the sake of our children reform of the Review must follow - & soon>
3. article39.org.uk/childrens-soci… This social care review has got off to a poor start. It lacks transparency & independence. It has too wide a brief & is seeking to rush it's work into 12 months. I believe it will be disastrous for the long term good of the diverse care community. >
1. A Sunday rambling. We use the term "care experienced" so much now, particularly in the context of the #carereview. But what does it mean, & who or what are care experienced people? The Review is yet to offer its definition, but it will be critical >
2. Are children still in care settings care experienced? Yes - but what is a care setting? They will include those in children's homes, residential schools, foster care. But they will include those in health & mental health care settings & those with disabilities - won't they? >
3. "Care experienced" will surely include young people aged up to 25 in higher education supported by councils. But what about those not supported by councils, or over 25. Will the #carereview identify them as care experienced & hear their views?
CareTech, one of the biggest private providers of children's homes and foster care, has published its annual financial report today. Prepare to get very angry (thread, 1/).
While the rest of the country has been struggling during the pandemic, CareTech has been growing fast and earning lots of money. Profits have risen 20% to £60 million. 2/
Last year it charged local authorities £430 million for care of vulnerable children and young adults.
£430 million. 3/
£430 million. 3/
