quote:

Originally posted by pussycatj:

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:
The pictures they released were interesting. What made Peter very cute as a child looked like we'd found the Missing Link in the mother.

The other thing about the selective personal information was that the mother rarely got up until lunchtime, spent most of her time on the internet, and had a bit of a drink/drug problem.

We're invited to draw an image and context from that. All I could think about was the people on forums I 'know' who would fit that description rather nicely.

Blimey Daniel that's a bit below the belt

quote:

Originally posted by Hotpants Helen:

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:
The people who tend to be drawn to social work are probably those with 'soft skills': empathy, sympathy, listening, and so on.

Isn't that the same sort of generalising you called up someone else for?

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:

quote:

Originally posted by Hotpants Helen:

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:
The people who tend to be drawn to social work are probably those with 'soft skills': empathy, sympathy, listening, and so on.

Isn't that the same sort of generalising you called up someone else for?

Is it? Well, let's see.

I've deliberately put in the words 'tend' and 'probably' to reduce the set of people I'm capturing. I'm not making a value judgement of those people based on those attributes that I can't support either.

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:
The pictures they released were interesting. What made Peter very cute as a child looked like we'd found the Missing Link in the mother.

The other thing about the selective personal information was that the mother rarely got up until lunchtime, spent most of her time on the internet, and had a bit of a drink/drug problem.

We're invited to draw an image and context from that. All I could think about was the people on forums I 'know' who would fit that description rather nicely.

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:
All I could think about was the people on forums I 'know' who would fit that description rather nicely.

quote:

Originally posted by Hotpants Helen:
Your use of the words "tend" and "probably" indicate (to me) that you are trying ever so hard not to offend.

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Okay I hear you, most social workers do a fantastic job, unfortunately a minority let the good ones down. The government does have a tendency to add more and more redtape, while expecting them to work miracles with unstable families.
But they are on the frontline, combined through a united front, are better place to urge changes to laws that don't work.

quote:

Originally posted by felix:
I am feeling sick listening to the news of the abuse these sickos inflicted on that poor little baby..

R.I.P. Peter Connelly

.. and to all the little ones that have suffered.

.. and I so hope rescue arrives to all the other little ones out there suffering now.

quote:

Originally posted by tupps:
I don't think for one moment frontline workers have God like status, or even want it. They just want to be able to do their jobs with adequate support and funding: something which is lacking as the Baby P case and others illustrates.

I have sympathy for social workers. They all too often do an impossible job in difficult circumstances. Those who sit in judgement should probably try it some time. They can't win: there is fury if they are seen as too eager to take children away and too 'soft' if they aren't.

They get it wrong sometimes. They are human. We all get it wrong sometimes. They also get it right too, lets not forget that. However, the biggest wrong is having them fettered by processes, performance indicators and bureaucracy. Notwithstanding that the buck stops (and starts) with the 'Mother' of this child and his murderers, if fingers of blame are to be pointed they should be directed at a Government which fails spectacularly on this issue and society as a whole.. not just the poor bugger who has to sit on a couch in a living room somewhere and decide whether Mr and Mrs 'Probably never should have a cat let alone a child' are competent care givers.

quote:

Originally posted by pussycatj:

quote:

Originally posted by felix:

quote:

Originally posted by Daniel J*:

quote:

Originally posted by felix:
I am still stunned by the whole sorry case, the lack of research and groundwork by so call educated, degree laden, social worker types who seemed more interested in nice tidy desks in their nice lives..... the reality is, there is a low-life society out there, and just maybe a sturdier, more grounded type would do a better job.

When you've finished sweeping with the generalisations, would you make a start on my yard?

You don't have to be rude, I may be generalisng but I think this case has plenty of examples of bad management. So government principles and policies of leaving vunerable children with their natural parents for as long as possible doesn't need a review? The social workers involved didn't see anything wrong or question the mothers excuses for injuries, and if they did, chose the mothers word over the obvious record of these injuries. Sixty visits were made!!! I think an added course on commonsense could be added to socialwork, maybe a stint in the police or prison service, where they will get to meet all sorts of deviousness. IMO.

hi felix Unfortunately these parents can be very clever at hiding their abuse. It was stated that she even smeared chocolate over his bruised face. But quite unbelievable that out of 60 visits none were picked up. I just don't understand how it could have been missed and I guess all we can do is speculate until further investigation has been made public.

quote:

Originally posted by LoraR:
After it all came out about Baby P I went to the Jobcentre to speak to a careers advisor about becoming a social worker. The careers advisor told me that I would have to do a years bridging course to bring me up to a level standard and then a 3 year full time degree to qualify as a social worker. She followed that up by saying that I'd get myself into debt by doing the degree so not to bother

quote:

Originally posted by Pengy:

quote:

Originally posted by tupps:
I don't think for one moment frontline workers have God like status, or even want it. They just want to be able to do their jobs with adequate support and funding: something which is lacking as the Baby P case and others illustrates.

I have sympathy for social workers. They all too often do an impossible job in difficult circumstances. Those who sit in judgement should probably try it some time. They can't win: there is fury if they are seen as too eager to take children away and too 'soft' if they aren't.

They get it wrong sometimes. They are human. We all get it wrong sometimes. They also get it right too, lets not forget that. However, the biggest wrong is having them fettered by processes, performance indicators and bureaucracy. Notwithstanding that the buck stops (and starts) with the 'Mother' of this child and his murderers, if fingers of blame are to be pointed they should be directed at a Government which fails spectacularly on this issue and society as a whole.. not just the poor bugger who has to sit on a couch in a living room somewhere and decide whether Mr and Mrs 'Probably never should have a cat let alone a child' are competent care givers.

exactly

What we should also be horrified is the number of children these days that are at risk from their parent or the 'lover' of a parent - it's staggering the amount of children on the 'at risk' register also makes you wonder how many aren't on there

quote:

Originally posted by Pretty_P:

quote:

Originally posted by felix:
I am feeling sick listening to the news of the abuse these sickos inflicted on that poor little baby..

R.I.P. Peter Connelly

.. and to all the little ones that have suffered.

.. and I so hope rescue arrives to all the other little ones out there suffering now.

What these ppl did is sick beyond relief however I really can't see what releasing their identity today has achieved - seems to me it is a bit of a pointless exercise!!