Union matters
Wednesday, 7. June 2006, 13:34:58
Supporting People
Tuesday, 6. June 2006, 20:46:34
The influence that supporting people has had on the work that the voluntary sector is incredible. Over the past few years we have had to cope with more and more paper work and admin. If I had wanted to be an admin worker I would have joined some organisation with better pay and conditions. I really feel that the people behind supporting people and echo have not got the foggiest idea what our jobs are all about.
The sad thing is that organisations such as Four Square just seem to fall into line with the demands placed on them. But due to management incompetence, they have not got what it takes to manage the changes in any kind of constructive way. Instead they just burden the staff with the changes and expect us to take the flack and added burden while they hobnob with the very people they should be challenging. More sinister than that, Four Square is in a process of changing it’s policy and procedures with the effect that workers rights and conditions are being seriously eroded.
Four Square managers such as Bob Stewart and Tom McFarlane I feel, hide behind these policies and procedures to make sure that they are in a position to do what ever they like (by the way they do not create any income for the organisation, but are exceptionally good at spending it). Talking about Bob Stewart; at a team meeting a few weeks back, he attended for one of his rare appearances. During this meeting he was trying to explain about a “new project” that HE would like to pioneer. I think it was the most excruciatingly embarrassing presentation I have ever heard in all my time in social care. It was only outdone by another attempt by aforementioned Mr. Stewart to chair a meeting a few moths previously. On top of that the “new project” that Mr. Stewart was referring to was in fact an idea that Follow Up had put forward previously because some workers there had identified a lack of provision in that area. Anyway back to Mr. Stewart. He proceeded to mumble his way through this presentation, preaching on about what we should be doing and what was needed. As he was speaking it became very clear that he did not know what he was talking about and that in the room there were workers with years of experience who had forgotten more on the subject that Mr. Stewart had ever known. But never once did he ask for any input from us, ask for any ideas, draw on any of the experience in the room or even acknowledge that he was scratching about in the dark.
The shame is if the project was to go ahead, it would be another example of miss-management and incompetence and in the long run those who need the support will miss out in my opinion. No dought Mr. Stewart would see it as another feather in his cap.
The sad thing is that organisations such as Four Square just seem to fall into line with the demands placed on them. But due to management incompetence, they have not got what it takes to manage the changes in any kind of constructive way. Instead they just burden the staff with the changes and expect us to take the flack and added burden while they hobnob with the very people they should be challenging. More sinister than that, Four Square is in a process of changing it’s policy and procedures with the effect that workers rights and conditions are being seriously eroded.
Four Square managers such as Bob Stewart and Tom McFarlane I feel, hide behind these policies and procedures to make sure that they are in a position to do what ever they like (by the way they do not create any income for the organisation, but are exceptionally good at spending it). Talking about Bob Stewart; at a team meeting a few weeks back, he attended for one of his rare appearances. During this meeting he was trying to explain about a “new project” that HE would like to pioneer. I think it was the most excruciatingly embarrassing presentation I have ever heard in all my time in social care. It was only outdone by another attempt by aforementioned Mr. Stewart to chair a meeting a few moths previously. On top of that the “new project” that Mr. Stewart was referring to was in fact an idea that Follow Up had put forward previously because some workers there had identified a lack of provision in that area. Anyway back to Mr. Stewart. He proceeded to mumble his way through this presentation, preaching on about what we should be doing and what was needed. As he was speaking it became very clear that he did not know what he was talking about and that in the room there were workers with years of experience who had forgotten more on the subject that Mr. Stewart had ever known. But never once did he ask for any input from us, ask for any ideas, draw on any of the experience in the room or even acknowledge that he was scratching about in the dark.
The shame is if the project was to go ahead, it would be another example of miss-management and incompetence and in the long run those who need the support will miss out in my opinion. No dought Mr. Stewart would see it as another feather in his cap.
Four Square
Tuesday, 6. June 2006, 18:33:22
Four Square (formally known as ECSH) is going through a period of change.
It's had the CORPERATE identity forced onto it by the so-called management team. What this actually means is that the organisation have spent thousands and thousands of pounds of what is taxpayers money to make themselves look all shiny and new. The problem with this in my opinion is that the so-called management team could not come up with a new idea if it slapped them across the face. The reality is that this new corporate identity is just another way of controlling the people who do the real jobs. I mean have they nothing better to do with precious time and resources. (Mind you Bob Stewart a senior manager has a long association with the Labour party who are exceptionally good at squandering other peoples money.)
One of my concerns is that there is no real consultation. Bob Stewart and Tom McFarlane pretend to go through the consultation procedure, but it has become very clear that any contribution to the process by the general workforce has been rejected/ ignored or worse. They have had minds made up long before any consultation took place what the outcome would be.
On top of this, they employed consultants to review all policies and procedures at a fantastic cost. My argument is that the policies and procedures needed to be updated, as they were archaic and irrelevant in the modern environment we now work in.
But surely Bob and Tom need to take some responsibility for letting things slip so badly, and so unable to get a handle on things that they have had to ship the work out to exorbitant consultants. I mean what have they been getting paid for all of these years? By the way, they are very quick to point the finger when they think the workers are not giving their all. I really think that the Management of Four Square have been getting away with murder for years and I cannot see this changing in the foreseeable future.
I feel Bob Stewart is needing to retire but maybe he is hanging in there for the director’s job when Connie finally retires.Heaven help us.
It's had the CORPERATE identity forced onto it by the so-called management team. What this actually means is that the organisation have spent thousands and thousands of pounds of what is taxpayers money to make themselves look all shiny and new. The problem with this in my opinion is that the so-called management team could not come up with a new idea if it slapped them across the face. The reality is that this new corporate identity is just another way of controlling the people who do the real jobs. I mean have they nothing better to do with precious time and resources. (Mind you Bob Stewart a senior manager has a long association with the Labour party who are exceptionally good at squandering other peoples money.)
One of my concerns is that there is no real consultation. Bob Stewart and Tom McFarlane pretend to go through the consultation procedure, but it has become very clear that any contribution to the process by the general workforce has been rejected/ ignored or worse. They have had minds made up long before any consultation took place what the outcome would be.
On top of this, they employed consultants to review all policies and procedures at a fantastic cost. My argument is that the policies and procedures needed to be updated, as they were archaic and irrelevant in the modern environment we now work in.
But surely Bob and Tom need to take some responsibility for letting things slip so badly, and so unable to get a handle on things that they have had to ship the work out to exorbitant consultants. I mean what have they been getting paid for all of these years? By the way, they are very quick to point the finger when they think the workers are not giving their all. I really think that the Management of Four Square have been getting away with murder for years and I cannot see this changing in the foreseeable future.
I feel Bob Stewart is needing to retire but maybe he is hanging in there for the director’s job when Connie finally retires.Heaven help us.
Disillusioned with voluntary sector
Tuesday, 6. June 2006, 17:06:16
I don't know about you but I have become disillusioned with the whole social care sector. I have 15 years of varied experience working in the voluntary sector, usually under incompetent managers and directors who are so concerned about covering their own backs that the last people that they care about are the field workers and the clients they support.
The main aim of this site is to give a voice to the people who do the real work in social care, whether that is anonymously or to name and shame.
Share your thoughts, stories about your organisation, project, managers etc. I am sure there is a lot of common ground and shared experiences.
These days to try and enter a debate with our organisations about change is viewed as ' confrontation', it's becoming more and more difficult to be motivated.Why should they get away with it? Are we not the ones who have the experience, the knowledge and the capabilities to know that is good practice and what is shear off the wall; crazy ;bananas; stupid; dangerous ( I'm running out of descriptions) incompetence.
The main aim of this site is to give a voice to the people who do the real work in social care, whether that is anonymously or to name and shame.
Share your thoughts, stories about your organisation, project, managers etc. I am sure there is a lot of common ground and shared experiences.
These days to try and enter a debate with our organisations about change is viewed as ' confrontation', it's becoming more and more difficult to be motivated.Why should they get away with it? Are we not the ones who have the experience, the knowledge and the capabilities to know that is good practice and what is shear off the wall; crazy ;bananas; stupid; dangerous ( I'm running out of descriptions) incompetence.
wildcatrythems
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