Jimmy & Margarets Family

Jimmy & Margarets Family
"Together"

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Social work courses too easy say MPs

Social work courses too easy to pass, say MPs
Sub-standard training putting children's lives at risk, warns select committee for children, schools and families
Buzz up!
Digg it
David Brindle
The Guardian, Thursday 30 July 2009
Article history

Social work training is unfit for purpose, according to a damning report by MPs out today. The Commons select committee for children, schools and families warns that children's lives are being put at risk because social workers are not being prepared adequately for the challenges they face.

The root cause lies in sub-standard degree courses. The report cited evidence "from several quarters" that the degree is too easy to pass, while some social work courses have a reputation for being hard to fail.

Children's charity the NSPCC told the committee that its practice teachers had on occasion come under pressure to pass students whom they felt should not be allowed to proceed further.
Urging an investigation into whether the funding arrangements for degree courses act as a perverse incentive to pass unsuitable students, the committee says: "It is unacceptable that social work courses, or any element of them, should have a reputation for being 'difficult to fail'."
The committee's verdict comes 24 hours after an interim report from the government's social work taskforce outlined plans to overhaul the training and leadership of the profession in the wake of the Baby P affair .

While the MPs welcome the prospect of radical reforms, they say they are concerned that a "plethora" of other new initiatives has been announced and set in train by ministers before the taskforce has concluded its work. "It is not clear how these initiatives fit together with each other, or with existing structures," the report says.

Helga Pile, national officer for social workers at Unison, said: "To say that social work training is not fit for purpose is a bit alarmist and damaging to the profession. There are lots of highly skilled, competent social workers out there doing a fantastic job. But they are battling with truly impossible working conditions which no amount of training can compensate for."

The report also criticises the entry requirements for degrees. In 2006-07, almost half the students admitted to courses had fewer than 240 Ucas points (three grade Cs or equivalent at A-level), compared to fewer than a quarter of entrants to comparable teaching or nursing degrees. The Joint Universities Council has reported complaints from some employers about standards of literacy among social work graduates.

Children's minister Lady Morgan told the committee that the door should remain open to would-be social workers "with life skills". But the MPs say that while A-levels are an imperfect measure of potential, "as they are a proxy for the intellectual ability that social work students need, we wish to see an improvement in the average grades required".

The committee proposes establishing a social work development agency, similar to the Training and Development Agency for teaching, to bring together recruitment, workforce development and funding and commissioning of training. MPs also called for better pay for social workers.
Barry Sheerman, who chairs the committee, said: "Social workers need a high-quality training body and high-profile national leadership of their profession – and they need to be better rewarded."

the MPs' findings, Lady Morgan said: "We have asked the taskforce to consider the select committee's recommendations in their thinking about long-term reform needed.

Friday, July 10, 2009

The Charters

Grandparents Apart UK


‘Bringing Families Together’

*0141 882 5658 *
Contacts all over the UK

Main Groups
Wales - 01492 874 395
Kilmarnock- 01563 821 869

Non profit making.
Staffed by Volunteers

Join us and help make a difference for our children.
Contact the number above or e-mail from our website.





The essential role that grandparents do play in children’s lives.

Dedicated Grandparents are the huge army that is never recognised officially for their tireless love and protection for children which comes automatically to them. Being mostly available 24/7 for caring for children but do suffer the indignity of being ignored as irrelevant persons. This is an army that doesn’t need to be bought with up to £200,00p a week (from a hard pressed public purse) to buy care for each child which is attracting the wrong kind of people. A lot do need help but not bought. There is a lot of them caring for their grandchildren that do not need or accept a penny but do it because they can afford it and it is their own flesh and blood.

The ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ does not ask for legal rights for grandparents or anything like that. There is too much opposition from the government for that and god only knows why. It asks for the professionals to look more closely at the role grandparents can play in their children’s lives to make them utilize the benefits grandparents can be, like keeping a child in a stable home environment, maintaining a child’s identity, health history, keeping extended family connections rather than strangers which renders a child confused, resentful and withdrawn effect which carries with them through-out their whole lives.

The Forgotten Children. +
The Way Forward.
Scroll down for much more.

http://gapukfamilyinformation.blogspot.com/


‘The Charter for Grandchildren’
(Bringing Families Together)

It is important that parents, grandparents and other family members, speak to, and treat each other, with respect. You may not get on, but you can still be civil, for the sake of the children. Try to avoid arguing with or criticising family members in front of the children. It can be very upsetting for them.

On occasions professional organizations such as social work departments or the courts can become involved and may have to make decisions that will have a lasting impact throughout a child’s entire life. In these circumstances it is vital that the loving and supportive role that the wider family, in particular grandparents can play is utilised to the full

FAMILIES ARE IMPORTANT TO CHILDREN
(Grandchildren can expect)

To be involved with and helped to understand decisions made about their lives.
To be treated fairly
To know and maintain contact with their family (except in very exceptional circumstances) and other people who are important to them.
To know that their grandparents still love them, even if they are not able to see them at the present time.
To know their family history.
The adults in their lives to put their needs first and to protect them from disputes between adults - not to use them as weapons in quarrels between adults.
Social workers , when making assessments about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
The Courts, when making decisions about their lives, to take into account the loving and supporting role grandparents can play in their lives.
Lawyers and other advisers to encourage relationship counseling or mediation when adults seek advice on matters affecting them and their children.

Along with others, Grandparents Apart UK put a lot of hard work into “The Charter for Grandchildren” by demanding to be heard about the gaps in family law concerning their grandchildren. Why? Because we really do have the best interests of our grandchildren at heart, if it was not for our love of them why would we bother?

Grandparents Apart UK. 22 Alness Crescent, Glasgow G52 1PJ
A Scottish Registered Volunteer Charity No. SC 031558
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/

Separation

No matter what you may think about separation. No matter what you may feel about separating. No matter what your situation or experience, life will change for you and your children.
How it changes, is up to you.
One of parent’s greatest concerns is how the separation will affect their children. Divorce or separation does not doom children to years of emotional problems or lifelong dysfunction. Exposure to constant parental conflict and unhealthy family situations, however, can significantly impact children's lives in a negative way.
The quality of your life and the lives of your children does not have to be overshadowed by separation..
Because divorce leaves us feeling emotionally vulnerable, our tendency is to focus on all the things we can't change verses what we can change.
What most parents need to help their children is information, reassurance and support.
Help, is now readily available at any of our groups. If we don’t know we can out you in touch with a man that does ‘The Charter for Grandchildren’ and ‘The Parenting Agreement’ ‘The Charter for Fathers’ were designed for the best interests of the children by making information and resources both available and easily accessible.
We offer support designed to give parents what they need to get back on track and point them in the right direction.


When going through the process of separation, parents often need help with:
· gaining perspective on their situation
· developing practical solutions to difficult problems
· seeing possibilities while managing change
· tapping into their strengths as a parent and a person
· moving from feeling helpless to feeling in control of their lives
· coping with pressure at work



‘The Charter for Fathers’
(Avoiding Conflict, Protecting children)

Separation and divorce can be a nasty and bitter experience for every one concerned especially the children. It appears to 90% are fathers that lose out but it can happen to mothers too.. You would not believe your new loving sweetheart, presently telling you that “I will always be yours”, could be anything else but loving and gentle.

In our experience in dealing with grandparents that are prevented from contact with their grandchildren is that there is at least one parent involved too. We have come to the conclusion that both are inseparable and in the end it is the children we care for in the conflict of hatred, spite and revenge that ruins their lives.

We just hope you will not experience any of these horrors but! Some of you certainly will. Too often we have heard “I just can’t believe it, that she/he could go to these extremes like telling lies about domestic violence and using the children for revenge and blackmail to get back at me for their own selfish means”.

If you are experiencing marital problems or thinking of separating get in touch with a family group for advice. Do not delay and do not try to work it out yourself or force your will on anyone. Contact any of us listed on the contacts list before you do anything, and we mean anything. If we can’t help we will know a man that can.

1. Urgent! Firstly contact an outside family agency, someone not involved with the family and keep contact throughout. You must resolve the situation without any aggression or incidents or you will fail. If you don’t heed this you will possibly lose your children as well.

2. Speak to someone in a help group before contacting anyone you are in conflict with.. You will be too emotional to handle this on your own.

3. Do not swear or raise your voice or obstruct in any way. if you do come in contact with your ex-partner or their family.

4. If the police become involved move away as directed immediately. The police have no stomach for family problems. Do not argue or try to reason as you will get removed and possibly charged with breach or harassment and it will never be removed from your record, even if you are innocent. It could be used against you if courts or Social Services get involved. Don’t give any excuse or you will be indefensible and nobody can help. You have been warned!


5. You will have to fight for any rights you do have regarding your children. It is equal on paper but don’t be fooled by this, in reality if you don’t live with your children, in the eyes of Social services, schools and the police you have no rights at all. Always have witnesses to everything you do and record everything in a diary.

6. If you need a solicitor make sure they are family law specialists as others could possibly take your case and lack the expertise. Be prepared to do most of the case work yourself, they are your children, make sure you get things right, you will only get one chance.

7. Mediation has resolved many disputes before a molehill becomes a mountain, before it goes into the real slanging match with accusing and condemning in court. You don’t want to be the cause of them saying, “you are angry and aggressive so I won’t attend mediation”. Give no excuses to refuse to attend. Make sure that the mediation is provided by an independent organisation like Family Mediation. They ask for donations only. You will find them in your local phone book or computer.

8. It has been reported the parent with residency, man or woman can be guilty of false accusations so be prepared to find yourself falsely accused and branded as:-
a) Violent b) Controlling c)Abusive d)Aggressive c) Sexual abuse.
All of these will be used to alienate you from your children.

9. Above all try and gain agreement through mediation without involvement of lawyers, courts, police or Social Services. If you gain a court order for contact it is not always complied with and is often not enforced making a mockery of our family laws. Your children have nothing to gain by these agencies involvement and very real significant harm can come of it.

10. Seek help as soon you can from a help group and keep in touch with at least one of their members and their meetings.


We have a fair amount of contacts you can talk to so call us on 0141 882 5658

The Ten Commandments of Family Law.
(What needs to change for our children’s best interest?)

1, Our motto is “Bringing Families Together” so we think the best interests of a child starts with Equal parenting when there is no factually proven reason not to.

2, The ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ to be Mandatory for Professionals working in Children’s welfare and answerable in law.

3, Children are human beings. Stop treating them as Commodities like a business deal. Cost only criteria and can ruin children’s lives

4, If adopted, where appropriate, child contact maintained with birth family in line with article 8 of the UN Convention on the rights of the child. (Should only be stopped in the worst case scenario)

5, Kinship care before strangers to be the first choice.

6, All below accountable to law. (a)--..False accusations. (b)-..Erroneous reporting by social workers. (c)…Flouting of court orders (d) Social Services Orchestrating “cover up’s”, when children are failed

7, Proper recording of all social work meetings and discussions E.g. Dual tape recording similar to police proceedings (to prevent And combat section 6 b+d)

8, More “transparency” and especially “accountability” for Social work and their managers

9, Specialised training for social workers in the best interests of children. (Only the most highly experienced social workers to deal in child protection)

10, Accusations removed from record, when not proven.
Parentimg Agreement

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Maggies wisdom

Morning Jim.

As I am an early person in the mornings, some times switching on the computer as early as 3am I look forward to your emails regarding all family news and family courts and all the information of the Justice system, lets say so called Justice. Jim you do a very good job via the emails for all the guys out there, no matter where they are in the world at least they can know what is happening, and they are not alone.
What I would like to tell you and maybe the guys is that working a phone line for years and talking to women, god knows how many thousands over the year’s one of the constant moans of a women, was, and still is

My husband is always working, comes home late, falls asleep in front of the TV, cannot be bothered to have sex, maybe he has another women, he can’t be bothered with me or the kids, we don’t go out much, he never tells me he loves me, or how nice I look, and he’s become lazy, I have to decorate the house, do the garden and so on.

My answer
Most men are under such pressure to work and pay the bills, if the rent was not paid, then the whole family can be made homeless, and of course after a days work, he is tired, having been under pressure at work to make sure he does not lose his job, he also has the worry of feeding the family, school fees, uniforms gas/electric bills to pay and so on, so of course the poor man is tired from the worry. I found many women do not recognise these facts, and neither does the family courts.
I think it should be made more aware, world wide, that the men have the main responsibility to keep the family together just by going to work, and bringing in the money to pay bills.
If women become the bread winners, after all they are always stating they want equal rights, then they would stop their arguments, and understand that to get up every morning rush out of the house, in the car in the rush hour, or by public transport is worse, and do the same journey home in the evening, and to do this day in day out, all year, it can be very tiresome, and for many men when they get home, they want peace in the camp.

Family Courts.
When a man is seeking rights to see his kids, the courts must acknowledge that
The man went to work paid all bills, and by doing so, kept the family together, and was a responsible person.
If a dad is deigned any rights to his kids, then it is the courts that are now breaking up the family, and it must become the responsibility of the courts or State to maintain what is left of the family. DO not make orders for fathers to pay for some thing that has been taken away. If the courts take on a liability and sit in judgement which the courts do, then they must pay for their judgments. We cannot pay for electricity or gas bills or any other bills, if we don’t have them. So a responsibility can be taken away from a dad by a court giving no rights.

MAGGIE TUTTLE

Saturday, July 4, 2009

A grandsons cry for help.

On The morning of the 2/7/09 at 7.21 my grandson called my mobile to tell me he was in trouble at home, oh said

I, why, he replies, I ran away from home yesterday, again I said why, he said

I CANNOT STAND THIS MISRABLE LIFE ANY MORE.

He recently turned age 8.
I believe my grandson has spoken these words (a miserable life) on behalf of children world wide, who are deigned the right to see their loving grandparents and fathers.

Tell me, from where would an innocent sweet little child find such words to put them into a sentence.?? Well the answer is within the system, family courts, social services ect and yes the children’s charities, oh yes children’s charities please give money to the charities, yes, if you use some of it to help kids have a say in their own little life’s, and for the children world wide, who just may be thinking the same words (a miserable life).
Apart from Grandparents and Fathers, there is no one in the system listening to the children, who like my grandson are desperate for help, and we can do nothing, let me tell you, the system only listens to money, and whilst taking our money, they then go on to preach to the world, children are to young to know their own minds, so are they to young to say, I cannot stand this miserable life any more.?? Till time ends, there will be talking’s and meetings, children’s charities begging for their wages, and the whole system telling us grandparents and fathers you have no rights,

Oh please, all you do-gooders, do you really think you know the answers, half of you are not even married.
So the words of the Bible say,
Suffer little children come on to me.
Maybe the Muslim religion has it right .Hell on earth and heaven above.
And that man will destroy himself,
Not before it destroys the families and children of the world.
And to my Grandsons cry for help, I was only able to give words of comfort, one day you will be a big boy, and then you can come for ever to your Grandma.

MAGGIE TUTTLE.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Draft Children's Hearings (Scotland Bill)

Draft Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill

The Draft Children's Hearings (Scotland) Bill was published on June 26, 2009. You can read the
Draft Bill, Policy Overview and FAQ on this website.

The Draft Bill contains the Scottish Government's proposals to reinforce and modernise the Children's Hearings System.

Explanatory Notes to accompany Part I of the Draft Bill can also be read on the website. The rest of the Explanatory Notes will be published soon.
Key proposals contained in the Draft Bill

The creation of a new national body, the Scottish Children's Hearings Tribunal, to drive up standards across Scotland.

Changes in functions and practice to improve support for both professionals and panel members, leading in turn to improving better outcomes for children and young people.
Legal and procedural changes to increase fficiency and ensure that children's rights continue to be properly upheld.

Under these proposals, the Scottish Children's Hearings Tribunal will be responsible for all functions associated with the Children's Panel, including recruitment, selection and training of panel members.

The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration will deliver the Children's Reporters service.
People will continue to be recruited, selected, trained and sit on hearings on a local basis.
Considering the proposals

The Draft Bill gives stakeholders the opportunity to consider the proposals.
We welcome your comments on the Draft Bill, at events this summer or by email to the Bill Team.

Hard copies of the Draft Bill pack have been sent to every panel member, panel chair, CPAC, Children's Hearings Training Unit and other key stakeholders. Please contact the Bill Team if you need hard copies.

The Bill is scheduled for introduction to the Scottish Parliament in the autumn.
Minister's Tour:
Inverness
Glasgow
Shetland
Edinburgh
Aberdeen
Dumfries & Galloway
Minister's Tour

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Ten Commandments of Family Law.

The Ten Commandments of Family Law.
(What we feel needs to change for our children’s best interest?)


1,Our motto is “Bringing Families Together” so we think the best interests of a child starts with Equal parenting when there is no factually proven reason not to.

2,The ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ to be Mandatory for Professionals working in Children’s welfare and answerable in law.

3,Children are human beings. Stop treating them as Commodities
like a business deal. Cost only criteria and can ruin children’s lives 4,If adopted, where appropriate, child contact maintained with birth family in line with article 8 of the UN Convention on the rights of the child. (Should only be stopped in the worst case scenario)

5,Kinship care before strangers to be the first choice.

6,All below accountable to law. (a)--..False accusations. (b)-..Erroneous reporting by social workers. (c)…Flouting of court orders (d) Social Services Orchestrating “cover up’s”, when children are failed

7,Proper recording of all social work meetings and discussions E.g. Dual tape recording similar to police proceedings (to prevent And combat section 6 b+d)

8,More “transparency” and especially “accountability” for Social work and their managers

9,Specialised training for social workers in the best interests of children. (Only the most highly experienced social workers to deal in child protection)

10, Accusations removed from record, when not proven.

The Forgotten Children of drug and Alcohol Abuse.

The forgotten children are children that are caught in a protection gap where no-one can help them if they are being abused until the unthinkable happens and in the situation of a 37% rise in drug and alcohol fatalities (one nearly every day) “Who” is looking out for these children that are involved? No-one! No one is permitted to contact them if the resident parent wishes it.

Children’s agencies say they can only cope with half the calls they receive and can only act when the abuse has been recognized, usually when a child has been badly abused or worse. A gap in child protection that grandparents could fill because of their unique relationship and love for their grandchildren; creating a much needed helpline to someone they can trust. Grandparents know their own children and have the special insight as to how they could treat their grandchildren, especially in drug and alcohol danger homes.

An abuser of a child can get a court order with or without good reason banning a non-resident parent or grandparents from having contact when all they want is to know are the children OK. Surely this is in the best interests of a child? Every one who loves them should be able to have some contact in case of problems in their lives. A stranger is allowed to come and go any night and has abused and murdered a child. Non-resident parents and grandparents are enraged at this powerlessness to protect their own children.

The above was put to the previous Scottish Executive by Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland their answer was “we have nothing further to add to our previous correspondence with you” Turning a blind eye will not make the abuse go away. It is obvious they had no answers to this problem. They have previously stated they also have no answer to non-compliance of court orders.

The unique relationship children could have with their grandparents must be explored and supported to the full for the welfare of our children. There is an army of grandparents out there where the majority of them would be delighted to help in early intervention should problems arise in their offspring’s home. For example, taking care of children and providing them with a known home environment rather than being taken to strangers, especially if their mum or dad is in trouble. The worst thing that can happen to a child at any age is to be parted from the family. The effects of this can be with them all their lives and lead to insecurity and problems in society.