Comments on: Social Workers (Express Your Views Here) The Childrens Act

By: Shell

Shell — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:23:41 +0000

Hi Joe
I am not a social worker, but i am a support worker working within social services with adults with learning disabilities. Speaking from experience (though i have to say not the experiences you had to suffer) i would lay alot of the blame for lack of cases being dealt with with some management, they are afterall the ones who are there to supposedly oversee everything! i have spoken to my managers regarding some concerns i have had within my job regarding people i support, and also spoken to the care commission, and alot of issues are more or less “swept under the carpet” to save them the paperwork! its an absolute disgrace! i know that sadly there are so many cases that are not brought to the attention of social services, but surely the ones that are, no matter what management call a priority, should be dealt with immediately! i know they will put it all down to cost but surely a child’s life or vulnerable adults life is more imporant?? because afterall, these people made the choice to work in a so called caring profession!
I know out there there are some wonderful workers within the care sector, but sadly there are several who couldn’t care less and it disgusts me!
Sometimes i question if i wil continue to work in the care sector due to the fact it feels as though i get nowhere when it comes to certain management members, but then i think to myself if i even manage to help one person move on with their life then i have done what i set out to do.
Anyway, i think you are a truly remarkable man Joe, and i wish you luck and continued happiness in your future. I also hope you are well soon x

By: sky

sky — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:02:39 +0000

reading your book was a eye opener to me. I work in a social services ‘nursery’ that helps parents to get their children back into their care after having them on the child protection register. I have had parents of children that have come from the streets just like you Joe and because i havnt experienced what you and these people have been through its hard to understand, but after reading your book i can start to. I have found this book insperational and hope you are very happy Joe with your wife and children.

By: lefthemadness

lefthemadness — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:16:34 +0000

Reading your book was sickening, but not something that was a surprise-im an experienced ex-social worker who left due to a client being abused in a similar way-yet despite all the evidence -the courts refused to remove the victim and they were placed back with the family and it was then my responsibility to ensure the victim was cared for by the same family!!what the public dont understand is the incompetent legal framework that social workers are forced to work within, we have little support from anyone-our own mangers are often stressed and under pressure to work within guidelines and policy- which leaves little room for common sense or instinct, the crux of the problem is simple- the punishment/sentence for abusing children or vulnerable people is too lenient in this country and unless the courts and judges give out harsher sentences-child abuse will continue-

By: elisha

elisha — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:30:41 +0000

there are good social workers out ther but it took social services 16 years to find 1 that actually believid in her job and did try to help, she helped me, after 16 years of abuse and being in and out of foster care all the others sent me back to my evil mother it wasnt untill i was near death that they actually did something about it. they dont have time for anyone just the money that they make.

By: shelley

shelley — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:39:43 +0000

heyy
i have read your book abd i thought it was so sad and no child should have to go through that:(
me and my mum were reading it and we neither of us could belive it….
i couldnt put it down i just always wanted what they were going to do next…..

i was actually nearly crying and i think its shoking x

they are evil

i hate people like that joe just hate them hoo could do that to someone xxxx

it was my mate hoo got me to read you book and i did i couldnt belive it xxxxxxxxxxx

By: Gem

Gem — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:44:32 +0000

Hi joe i have just finished reading cry silent tears it only took me one day to read as i couldnt put it down waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel waiting for the rescurers to come in and make the big save. Unfortunatly as the daughter of a foster carer (my mother n father been fostering for 4 years) i kno not all children are saved, there are too many children not being resuced in this world and that needs to change. As a mother i dont kno how anyone can hurt there own child, Children are the future of this world and something needs to be done to make sure our children continue to live life and not be looking round the corner for nasty people. As a foster carer my mother never gets all info on the kids that live here and too be honest to take the side of a parent isnt rite if a child asks for help help the child not the parent innocence must be saved!

By: shaz

shaz — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:23:54 +0000

i have just finished reading cry silent tears, it wasnt an easy read at all, i had to keep putting the book down i am 39 yrs old to to imagine that this sort of thing could of been allawed to happen made me feel sick to my stomache…. you are one very brave man and i really admire you good luck to you wot eva your future holds and i hope to god that our social services quickly get there act together so no other child on this planet as to go through the same thing you did. god bless xx

By: Steph

Steph — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 12:44:43 +0000

I totally agree with Tom, I have children and work part-time and have plenty of life experence. I would so love to train to be a social worker to help children and families, but how do I do that and still work? I dont know.
I come to college once a week and have started at the bottom and am trying to do something.

By: Louise Borthwick

Louise Borthwick — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:35:43 +0000

Hi Joe

I don’t know the child protection laws standards or the government guidelines, to be honest I don’t believe those who work in the sector do either nor do the government officials themselves. I assume there are so many subsections, jargons and nonsense within them written over the years by various do gooders as with the criminal justice system I don’t believe any one person deals with it all and there have probably been so many decisions made by so many people that the left and right hand don’t know what they are doing. So the first issue would be for all responsible to be made aware of the guidelines, perhaps re-write it but you see that is just such a big job and would require dedication and resources that it will never get done.

There are many issues, I think that balance is missing in so many areas of life. Everthing is so extreme, no common sense is applied to anything. People in power are there because of that to fill their egos and feel powerful because they lack within themselves, so if you have people like that holding aces in life its very difficult to change what goes on.

Keep fighting it I believe one day our voices will be heard and hands will be forced to make changes, but it all has to change not just the written word the people have to become aware and enlightened.

There is so much fear within people that they act from a place of panic rather than clear rational thinking so mistakes are made extremes are put in force to cover up the inadequacies going on…

Good luck Joe x

By: Dyan

Dyan — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:35:25 +0000

I have just finished reading Cry Silent Tears which I. started 2 days ago. I was hoping desperately that Joe would be saved from the evil monsters that tortured and abused him. I just wished he could have found the courage to tell someone in authority. I am sickened to my stomach to think they got away with it.
Yet here we are in 2008 and still social workers cant get it right, they are a total waste of space! You only have to see the case of ‘Baby P’ to know they are absolutely useless and incompetent. When I look at my own children, who I just want to love and protect, I find it so hard to comprehend that these sick disgustings people (I would call them animals but they are worse than animals) are getting away with letting children suffer such agonies.
If your own mother dosen’t protect you then what chance have you got!