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I appreciate the gov't power and funding structures can make it risky for individuals and organisations to criticise in any meaningful way. I am just as guilty for not doing so as often as I could. This is not about me being any better than any other human being or social worker.
There have been tweets about how visceral the affects are of the gov't action to not give the #carereview the respect and standing it requires and deserves. There is a surprising acceptance of the lack of independence, expertise and accountability from DfE, Chair and SW leaders.
People with lived experience can't walk away from this matter and its poor governance has already caused anxiety, fear and a need to hold onto the only vehicle they believe is going to come by this generation.
The choice of chair and the funding he has from DfE and support from our Chief SW puts social work at the heart of this issue. I believe it is by design. The intended changes threatened to dramatically alter the state relationship with children and families.
As someone who started out on their career in 1983, social work is who I am. I cannot walk away. In career terms I have good standing but I am insignificant. I am not a leader in my profession. I'm a part time lecturer. So I have less to lose but also less influence than many.
With an issue as dramatic as what is expected to be delivered from the #carereview Chairs recent blueprint. I should be supporting BASW, Professors, DCS, PSW's, and leading charities in their collective stance against the privatisation of children's care. But most are silent.
However, their invisibility is visible. When some choose to highlight an issue of social justice we see the likes and shares. Yes we should rage against poverty but doing so does not provide a pass on the #carereview.
I recognise it's uncomfortable and anxiety provoking to raise concerns which upset those whose good graces you might need to be in. Individuals and charities will be reliant on gov't funding and security of network alliances. It is how the world works. Well how it works for some.
At times when say, pensions are threatened or A levels were in danger we saw a general uprising. However, those who are outside privileged networks don't have the same access to justice, they are marginalised. For them justice is delayed or denied.
There are layers of social work and policy failures which add to injustice need more than some tweets to discuss fully. However, past failures do not excuse poor decisions in the present. The DfE decision has IMO great ramifications beyond the #carereview
Even well run and independently chaired inquiries can struggle to influence policy changes. The will of the government is dominant and the process of reviews can become little more than a legitimising of both concerns and the system of review.
However, that process as challenging as it can be, is not what we have with the DfE #carereview IMO we see a flouting of norms, of the acceptance of independence and expertise. That decision undermines our principles of democracy. It serves to assert that democracy is a pretence
Some of us might well experience democracy as pretence but the illusion serves to legitimise gov't. We live in a society where gov't policy creates hunger, distress and harm. Social work is supposed to stand in the space in between and if we don't there is no-one to replace us.
