Knowledge test for social workers

Isabelle Trowler

Chief social worker Isabelle Trowler today launched a ‘knowledge and skills statement‘ that sets out what children and families social workers need to know and do in one place.The statement’s publication coincides with the introduction of what the Department of Education calls a "new gold standard" for children’s social workers: the approved child and family practitioner status.

The status will only be awarded to social workers who pass a test based on the knowledge and skills set out in Trowler’s statement. "I’m determined to ensure we earn the public’s respect and confidence in our profession by ensuring that every child and family social worker is properly supported to do the job society needs them to do," said Trowler.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/07/31/new-blueprint-future-training-social-workers-announced-isabelle-trowler/

The following article covers the same ground but also discusses the issue in relation to forced adoptions.

If the comments are anything to go by, it is going to take a bit more than a knowledge test on how social workers can remove children from their families and rush them into the adoption process to persuade some of the public that all will be fair and above board.

Here`s one example: [accessed at 18.30  on 31.07.2014]

"Social services in the UK are little more than a criminal organisation"

 

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/forced-adoption-uk-child-protection-punishment-without-crime-175632233.html#2RNzZro

NO2NP: Scots home school charity warns about state intrusion

Curriculum for excellence and personalised learning

According to a document held in the archives on the UK government website, `personalisation` is a very simple concept. It is about enabling citizens to have their say about how public services are organised on their behalf.  In the education field it appears as personalised learning.

Personalised learning is a progressive idea and gone is the notion that there is a body of knowledge which should be passed on to the next generation. In place of that, attention is paid to what the learner already knows, including what they have learned outside the classroom. Learners set goals for themselves, create their own hypotheses, take risks, monitor their progress and with their teacher identify their next steps. So each learner is set on a different pathway through their own learning. According to these progressive ideas, learners will be fully engaged in their own learning and all can succeed.

Sound good ? 

David Miliband, in his 2004 conference speech, describes personalised learning as:

"High expectations of every child, given practical form by high quality teaching based on a sound knowledge and understanding of each child’s needs. It is not individualised learning where pupils sit alone. Nor is it pupils left to their own devices - which too often reinforces low aspirations.

It means shaping teaching around the way different youngsters learn; it means taking the care to nurture the unique talents of every pupil."     http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130401151715/http://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/DfES%200919%20200MIG186.pdf

Of course, in a classroom full of pupils on their personalised learning journeys there are bound to be important questions about how this is to be organised.  

Leaving that aside for the moment, what can we learn about personalised learning in relation to Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in Scotland?  Curriculum for Excellence Briefing 5: Personalised Learning tells us that:
 

Personalised learning means tailoring learning and teaching to learners’ needs.

So far so good.

Staff do this by knowing learners well and building on prior learning so that all learners can participate, progress and achieve.

Recall that personalised learning includes the learning that the learner brings to the situation from outside the classroom. If knowing learners well is beginning to sound a bit GIRFECy, that is because it is: 
 

Personalised learning focuses on the individual learner from the earliest level through to lifelong learning. It is key to taking forward the ambitions of CfE and Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC).  

 

Further into the document: 

Just as personalisation means a broad range of approaches to learning and teaching, it also means a variety of approaches to assessment. Assessment approaches within qualifications are being broadened to reflect personalisation more directly.

They are not exactly clear about what they mean by "assessment approaches are to reflect personalisation more directly,"  but it does not look good if you value a private life. 

For learners to experience personalisation within their learning, it is essential that they are known well and that their learning is recognised and valued, including where feasible their learning beyond the classroom. Wherever learning is taking place, the day-to-day interactions between staff and learners are vital for personalised learning. It is likely that a key adult has a holistic overview of a learner’s progress and personal development.

Key adult with an overview? Named person perhaps? Whatever this is, one thing is certain: it is going to be highly intrusive.

To get a clue to the real motivation behind personalised learning the Global Education Leader`s Program (GELP) offers some insight. It says a lot from the systems and organisational point of view which is going to be a problem if personalised learning is part of the government`s vision for education. Here is what they have to say about themselves:

 

The Global Education Leaders’ Program sets out to transform education, effectively and sustainably, at local, national and global levels. It envisages education systems that equip every learner with the skills, expertise and knowledge to survive and thrive in the 21st century. 

The Program is a partnership of thought leaders and consultants from world-class organizations, collaborating in a global community with teams of key education leaders who are seriously committed both to transforming education in practice and to developing the personal skills they need to lead the changes required. 

At the heart of GELP’s vision is the fostering of new pedagogies, curricula and assessment methods that enable every student to develop higher order capabilities. For this to be realised, appropriate technology, leadership, professional development, policies and governance also have to be in place.

 [The Scottish Government have all systems in place] 

http://gelponline.org/personalized-learning-study-visits-and-workshops-2014

When GELP discuss appropriate technology and systems they are talking about computers, Big Data and the standardisation of these systems across the globe. In order to justify the tracking and monitoring of every global student and their associated adults, it is essential that they have a concept to push like `personalised learning`; otherwise this project would be seen for what it is. There is a fortune to be made when all systems are in place by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who are supporters of GELP -  and fortunes to be made by other big corporations. 

To achieve real and lasting progress, education systems must also innovate and learn. This is a problem, because the measures that currently dominate educational assessment do not allow education systems to learn as they strive to improve. Without the right measures, and the ability to apply them coherently and systematically in thousands of locations simultaneously, educational achievement will be held back.

Our collective progress depends on creating and using new measures of success in keeping with today’s expectations of learning.

Greater transparency can combine with richer information to support students, teachers, schools and systems as they learn. We need new measures that can provide rich and rapid data about what is working in our efforts to innovate.

http://gelponline.org/sites/default/files/resource-files/gelp_statement_june_2014.pdf 

While this Orwellian nightmare continues to evolve here is a quote from the Giants Report which brings back a bit of sanity.

The emphasis these days is on ‘personalised learning’ – a programme of learning to suit each individual child. This ignores the fact that a body of subject knowledge cannot be personalised. Fundamental building blocks, such as axioms in mathematics or grammar in language learning, cannot be personalised for an individual learner.

Whole class teaching is efficient and effective, tried and tested. It runs against the prevailing fashion in this country for personalised learning but is central to successful education systems across the world. The growing fashion for ‘personalised learning’ in our schools has led to a great surge in reliance on technology. It is through computers that learning can be made truly personal. It allows pupils to proceed at their own pace under loose supervision by a teacher. Technology certainly has an important part to play in our schools but its effectiveness over more traditional resources is very much open to question. 　 

http://www.cre.org.uk/docs/5-Giants-Report.pdf

See the cooperation agreement set up between UNESCO and Microsoft. (UNESCO Headquarters Paris, 17 November 2004)

http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/strategy_microsoft_agreement.pdf

For anyone who would like a sense of what personalised learning in the digitised classroom might be like have a read at the following: Robotic, sterile, empty -  are some of the words that come to mind.

http://www.siia.net/PLI/presentations/PLI_ELEM_scenario.pdf 　

2 people banned from the UK for linking Politicians to Jersey care home

UPDATE

"In July, a long-awaited Committee of Inquiry convened hearings in Jersey to investigate whether there may have been a cover-up of decades of atrocities against children. The inquiry stated September 5 that "new witnesses are coming forward all the time, and it is anticipated the hearings will last many months."

"However, little more than one month into the hearings, which began July 22, Jersey lawmakers, victims and even the top cop of Operation Rectangle have written letters to the inquiry’s chair, U.K. Judge Frances Mary Oldham, questioning the inquiry’s handling of everything from restricting media coverage of the hearings—which are supposed to be independent and open to the public—to narrowing the scope of its examination into abuse against children on the island. Thus far, it has limited that probe only to children in Jersey care homes."

http://www.newsweek.com/lawmakers-blast-child-abuse-inquiry-tax-shelter-jersey-269447?piano_d=1

Big society in tatters

David Cameron’s flagship Big Society Network is being investigated by the Charity Commission over allegations that it misused government funding and made inappropriate payments to its directors – including a Tory donor.

The organisation, which was launched by the Prime Minister in 2010, was given at least £2.5 million of National Lottery funding and public-sector grants despite having no record of charitable activity.

The Independent  has learnt that it has now been wound up, having used much of the money on projects that came nowhere near delivering on their promised objectives.

A project called Get In – to tackle childhood obesity through sport. In April 2012 it was awarded a grant of £299,800 from the Cabinet Office despite officials concluding it was unlikely to meet its stated objectives. They were told to change their selection criteria and approve the grant. The project was never even launched.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exclusive-camerons-big-society-in-tatters-as-charity-watchdog-launches-investigation-into-claims-of-government-funding-misuse-9629848.html

Meanwhile Aileen Campbell has announced that £10 million will be made available to the Third Sector Early Intervention Fund for 2015-16 to support voluntary groups with projects to tackle poverty, promote parenting skills and encourage family support for learning.

http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/-15-million-to-support-children-and-families-dac.aspx

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has proposed that the annual accounts of all Scottish charities should be published on the regulator’s website.

Unlike the Charity Commission, the OSCR does not make accounts submitted to it available online, but individual charities are legally obliged to provide their latest accounts to the public on request.

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/oscr-proposes-publish-annual-accounts-scottish-charities-its-website/finance/article/1305250

Significant case review into social work department regarding Mikaeel Kular

The three-year-old’s mother Rosdeep Kular admitted beating him to death after losing her temper when he was sick after a trip to Nando’s.

She then wrapped him in a duvet and buried him in a suitcase in woods behind her sister’s house in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

The family had extended contact with social services when they lived in both Fife and Edinburgh after Kular left her children alone when she went out drinking.

http://news.stv.tv/scotland/283951-mikaeel-kular-significant-case-review-into-social-work-departments/

Daily Express Paper Edition (Page 28)

Daughter of GP may get six years for killing son, 3

By Stephen Wilkie

Saturday 26 July 2014

Rosdeep Kular, 34, faced a murder charge at Edinburgh High Court but pleaded guilty instead to culpable homicide - despite inflicting 40 injuries on her son Mikaeel’s body. The average punishment for this lesser offence is eight years. Kular, whose mother and stepfather are family doctors, will get a third off for submitting an early plea and qualify for automatic early release after serving two-thirds of her sentence. A police officer involved in the hunt sparked when the mother-of-five reported Mikaeel missing described the deal as "scandalous".

Initially Kular said Mikaeel had wandered off. Hundreds of residents joined police scouring the area. But after being quizzed for a third time, divorced former hairdresser kular said: "It was an accident and I panicked. I am going to jail." The remains were found in a suitcase in woods near Kular’s childhood home in Kirkcaldy, Fife. Last night Fife Council announced a review as it emerged that in 2013 Mikaeel and Ashika were placed in care as Kular battled alcoholism. She will be sentenced next month.

Will it be recognised as a GIRFEC failure? 
See http://www.scotsman.com/news/dani-garavelli-vulnerable-children-need-our-help-1-3489736

We have proven named person scheme protects children ?

A Highland Council official who drew up a controversial national strategy that gives every child in Scotland a named person said those who do not suport it have misconstrued his plan.  Head of care and learning Bill Alexander said concerns by campaigners who claim it contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights were misguided.

Mr Alexander said it had proven to work well for children.

"We have fewer children being reported to the Children’s Reporter, we have fewer children on the Child Protection Register, we have fewer children offending. And we had an inspection by the Care Inspectorate in November and December where we got the highest grades out of any local authority in Scotland." 

http://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/News/Named-person-scheme-protects-children-council-chief-claims-09072014.htm

Mr Alexander goes on to say that with named persons in place bureaucracy has been reduced and that help for a child in need just happens. Given the amount of data being collected by named persons for every child in the Highland Council it is ridiculous that he should think so. Now one in five children in the Highland Council have a child plan HERE. As far as named persons circumventing the Children`s Reporter system and the Child Protection Register is concerned, perhaps Mr Alexander needs to think again. The Children`s Hearing system provides safeguards for children and families because cases are scrutinised by three lay people who are independent of the local authority and who use their common sense. Remove that, and children and families are at the mercy of named persons and their local authority partners who are encouraged to collaborate. Professionals, who are allowed to use their hunches and intuitions, do get it wrong.

See the following article which contradicts some of Mr Alexander`s findings, admittedly dated earlier. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/uncategorized/26297/fears-of-north-abuse-surge/

It is worth re-reading this article from the Daily Mail (2009) in which Liz Davies, Senior Lecturer in Children's and Family Social Work at London Metropolitan University, talks to Eileen Fairweather. She criticises Lord Laming for his reforms in England and Wales which meant social workers were spending about 80% of their time with a mountains of paperwork rather than working with clients.  

Children's Secretary Ed Balls ordered Laming's latest report following Baby P's death. It confirmed the crisis in child protection work. But it does not admit the Government's earlier 'reforms', based on Laming's recommendations, are to blame.

Laming was first asked to overhaul social services after the death of Victoria Climbié in 2000.

His report recommended the abolition of the Child Protection Register, and helped the then Children's Minister, Margaret Hodge, launch her controversial Every Child Matters agenda. This called for database profiling of all children, switching the emphasis from protecting endangered children to monitoring all children and providing 'family support'.

With a 30-year career in child protection, I know the register has been invaluable in flagging up those at grave risk. But it was wound down last April. The database replacing it aims to log intimate details about all children. Social workers say vulnerable children are now lost like needles in a haystack.

It looks familiar but thankfully Every Child Matters was scrapped. What is wrong with the Scottish Parliament and its Care Inspectorate that nobody can see the dangers and apply the same logic to GIRFEC and the named person?

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1179751/Why-soon-new-Baby-P-scandal--woman-tried-warn-danger.html#ixzz37uY7QCiB

Jill Dando tried to expose a paedophile ring

MURDERED TV presenter Jill Dando tried to expose a paedophile ring involving “big-name” BBC stars, a former colleague has claimed.

By Don Hale/Published 21st July 2014

TRAGEDY: Jill Dando told bosses about claims of sexual abuse [BBC]

"According to the retired BBC worker, the Crimewatch host was told that DJs, stars and corporation staff were involved in organised abuse."

"But when she tried to get bosses to investigate the alleged ring and other abuse complaints inside the BBC “no one wanted to know”, the former friend said."

"Undeterred, Jill is said to have then raised the claims with senior management in the mid-1990s but no investigation took place."

"The TV host was shot dead a few years later on the doorstep of her London home. The 37-year-old’s murder remains unsolved."

"Her ex-colleague, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t recall the names of all the stars now and don’t really want to implicate anyone but Jill said they were surprisingly big names."

 http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/389922/Tragic-Jill-Dando-probed-BBC-PAEDO-ring

 

See also http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/490169/Dando-alarm-paedophile-ring-BBC

Social services boss sacked after the Baby P scandal has been awarded £679,452

"The former social services boss sacked after the Baby P scandal has been awarded £679,452 in a 'secret' compensation deal."

Former children's services boss Sharon Shoesmith Credit: PA

"Sharon Shoesmith, the ex-head of children's services at Haringey Council, won a case for unfair dismissal."

"She claimed she had been unfairly dismissed and the Court of Appeal ruled in her favour in 2011, saying she had been "unfairly scapegoated".

"Haringey Council previously revealed it had spent £196,000 fighting Ms Shoesmith's case for unfair dismissal."

"The compensation package is more than the minimum suggested by senior judge Lord Neuberger in the 2011 ruling."

"He gave the opinion Ms Shoesmith was entitled to a minimum of three months' salary plus pensions contributions, which would have amounted to about £33,000."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28454800

Jersey care system child abuse inquiry

 Jimmy Savile at Haut de la Garenne

An inquiry looking into historical child abuse allegations in Jersey's care system has started.

The year-long £6m inquiry will probe reports of abuse in the island's children's homes and fostering services from 1960 to the present day.

The panel is still appealing for witnesses to come forward.

During her opening statement, inquiry chairwoman Francis Oldham QC stressed it would be independent of the States and police.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-28408981

Despite the assurances, there are serious doubts by victims of child abuse and witnesses that the Jersey inquiry will be independent and there has been a push to include Jersey in the UK Child Sexual Abuse Inquiry. Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming has tabled an "Early Day Motion" and a petition has been set up by a petitioner from Andover in the UK. It is well known that children from care homes in the UK were transported around the country and some of them disappeared in the Jersey care system:

At least five children were illegally placed in care on Jersey by Birmingham social services, which then lost track of them. ..

Birmingham council only discovered it had placed five children in foster care on Jersey because, at Mr Hemming's request, it checked old accounts. It found it made payments to Jersey for child care between 1960 and 1990. Yet a social work file survived on only one child.

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1041035/Birmingham-council-illegally-sent-children-care-Jersey-MP-report-reveals.html

Stuart Syvret, ex Minister of Health and Social Services, who was imprisoned for speaking out about the cover ups in Jersey, writes about it in his blog. It is unlikely that these matters will be covered by the BBC who were heavily criticised for their biased reporting at the time of the corrupted police investigation.

http://freespeechoffshore.nl/stuartsyvretblog/jersey-and-its-child-protection-failures/

Will GIRFEC make everything right for children in Dumfries and Galloway?

http://www.dumgal.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=12711

For anyone who wants to know what the corporate parents in Dumfries and Galloway have in mind for every child in the area,  The updated Improvement Action Plan for Children's Services is available to download [149kb] [accessed 21 July 2014]. The little smiley cartoon characters on the website tell us that the corporate parents are Getting it Right for Every Child when really there is much cause for concern. There have been two serious case reviews in Dumfries and Galloway in recent times. 

Social services have admitted to failings in their care of a baby who was killed by his father in south west Scotland. Dumfries and Galloway Council said a mistake was made in not placing Dylan Lockerbie on the child protection register.

Ian Metcalfe was found guilty on Tuesday of the culpable homicide of Dylan, who died when he was five months old in March 1996.

Metcalfe, 34, was also convicted of assaulting and killing another son, Kyle, aged 10 weeks, in 1988.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2163281.stm 

.

Kennedy McFarlane died on 17 May last year after a blow from her mother's boyfriend sent her crashing into the leg of a bed. Thomas Duncan, 33, was sentenced to life for the child's murder at the High Court in Edinburgh in November.

The independent inquiry, which was carried out by consultant paediatrician Dr Helen Hammond, said the child's life could have been saved if Dumfries and Galloway Council implemented its full child protection procedures.

But it refused to blame any one individual or agency for her death

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1196329.stm

If ever there was a case to be made that agencies need to pay attention to child protection procedures, above all else, these tragedies point to that as a priority. The Council was held responsible for failing to take protective action that resulted in the deaths of both Dylan Lockerbie and Kennedy McFarlane.

Unfortunately, the inspection teams who submitted their report earlier this year and to which the Council responded have more to say about GIRFEC than child protection. According to GIRFEC, children are to be kept safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included. In other words staff are to be left unclear about what is expected with regard to child protection because GIRFEC gives them little focus.

In particular the report noted that staff were not always confident about sharing information or reaching a shared understanding of the significance of information when there were lower level concerns about children and young people.

Exactly.  That is what campaigners against GIRFEC have been saying all along. `When you`re looking for a needle, don`t make the haystack bigger.`

　

Disappearance of children from care

　

John Hemming talks about the disappearance of children from care on BBC world at one.
　

A point that has not been looked properly at is the disappearance of children from Care. We had the recent reports from Ireland about the deaths of children being concealed. I believe that this also happened at Haut de la Garenne. To me it seems quite straightforward that if we are sufficiently concerned about money that we should count the money and audit it, we should also count the children and audit what happens to them.

Vocaroo Voice Message

Please don`t take my child

Kellie Cottam, founder of Forced Adoption Exposed

 

The ITV programme `Please don`t take my child` is being shown on the `Forced Adoption Exposed` website.

See link below:

http://www.forcedadoptionexposed.com/

Scotland needs to clean up its own act

Here`s a dishonest article that implies there are no paedophile rings  or cover ups in Scotland:

While the revelations are decades too late, the disclosure of an elite paedophile ring potentially involving MP’s, ‘Lords’, entertainers, BBC employees and other members of the UK establishment may prove to be the knockout punch to any possibility of Scotland staying in the union.

Why would any Scot vote to remain part of a governing system in which such horrific crimes could be committed with impunity and legally covered up, by some of the most powerful political figures?

We are witnessing what happens when a feudal, barely democratic political system combined with a corrupt state broadcaster are allowed to function outside the law with no accountability.

http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-opinion/9456-westminster-and-the-bbc-a-haven-for-child-abusers

Here`s two more articles which suggest otherwise.

Nicholas Fairbairn and Alistair Smith

THE two top Scots Tories from Margaret Thatcher’s Government were last night linked to an alleged child abuse ring. Former Kinross and Western Perthshire MP Sir Nicholas Fairbairn and former party Scottish chairman Dr Alistair Smith were named as suspects in the historic abuse of underage boys.

Senior officials in Thatcher’s Government were alleged to have attended private sex parties with underage boys and visited a notorious guesthouse.

Pearson added: "The Scottish Goverment cannot stand back from this. We know victims have been calling for action here in Scotland and so far we are the only part of the UK not holding any investigations.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/tory-child-abuse-claims-calls-3853105

Tam Paton

THE Scottish Government ignored calls from one of its own advisers to launch an investigation into a high-profile paedophile ring operating in Edinburgh. Dr Sarah Nelson revealed five years ago that she had uncovered an abuse network centred on convicted sex abuser Tam Paton, the late manager of the Bay City Rollers.

However, her demands for an inquiry were never followed up - despite compelling evidence that dozens of boys may have had their lives ruined by the twisted pop svengali and his powerful accomplices. Young runaways or children in care were lured in, drugged and then sexually abused. Many were then forced to work as 'rent boys' at a number of seedy secret flats across the Capital.

The paedophile ring is thought to have operated over several decades and to have included, at one time or another, well-known TV personalities, lawyers and police officers...

In 2009, Dr Nelson carried out a follow-up study and again came across a substantial number of Paton's alleged victims. The age of the victims indicates that Paton's crimes may have continued well into the new millenium.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488484/Why-was-Scottish-Savile-ignored

You have to ask why the Scottish Government are so reluctant to hold any kind of inquiry into child sex abuse. Then we have the campaigner, Robert Green, a man who was imprisoned for three months and one week and who has now been under house arrest for the past fifty five days - all without a proper trial or knowing what the charges are. His only crime seems to have been that he kept pushing for an investigation into child sex abuse.

Here`s a snippet of a letter to Frank Mulholland QC, referring to Kenny MacAskill and regarding Robert Green and the Hollie Greig case - there`s still no reply from the Lord Advocate:

He claims that Hollie Greig’s case was properly investigated, and found to have no basis in fact. Yet, as you and I and thousands of others know (for I am sure that I am not the only person to have informed you of this) no investigation worthy of the name took place - unless, that is, it is normal procedure in Scotland to follow up serious allegations of long-term gang rape of a child by failing to question the named abusers, failing to seize and examine their computers, failing to admit the testimony of expert witnesses, and nonchalantly standing by while the despoliation of vital evidence is allowed to take place.

http://www.freerobertgreen.co.uk/open-letter-to-frank-mulholland-qc/

UPDATE:  It gets worse:

The Sheriff at Robert Green`s trial today (16 July 2014) threw out his challenge that the Scottish Government did not act within the limits of its judicial capacity when he was arrested and held in prison with no proper representation and without being aware of the precise charges.

A new trial is set for 21 January 2015 and the charges are still unknown but existing bail conditions remain. An interim hearing has been set for 15 December 2014, the purpose of which is not known.

See also
http://www.dunblaneexposed.info/2013/10/savile-isnt-the-only-obnoxious-paedophile-being-covered-up-by-the-system-thomas-hamilton/

http://ukgovernmentwatch.wordpress.com/nicholas-fairburn/

Beechwood Child Abuse Witness in Peterborough Prison

Three Nottingham MPs, Vernon Coaker, Lilian Greenwood and Chris Leslie

Three Nottingham MPs, Vernon Coaker, Lilian Greenwood and Chris Leslie have so far failed to respond to UK Column enquires as to their action to help Beechwood victims and protect other children from abuse. Their silence says much.  The Beechwood Children’s Home abuse witness is being held in Peterborough prison after unknown police action on Thursday, 10th July, and a secret court hearing on Friday, 11th July 2014. For the personal safety of the individual and in the wider public interest we are naming the witness as Melanie Shaw.

Article | July 14, 2014 - 5:04pm

Despite telephone calls by UK Column and members of the public to Nottinghamshire police over the weekend, we were unable to establish the precise whereabouts of Melanie. We remained concerned for her safety in light of civilian police staff claims that she was safe, without any supporting facts as to what had happened, or where she was being held. Late on Friday afternoon Melanie Shaw’s solicitor was also unaware of the police action or his clients location.

At 1127 on Monday, 14th July we received a call from a friend of Melanie who informed us that she was being held in Peterborough prison after being picked up by Nottinghamshire police on Friday and held in cells overnight. After a Court hearing the following day, for which it is still not known if Melanie had proper legal representation or the benefit of public and press attendance, she was remanded to Peterborough prison. This category B prison run by Sodexo had a reputation in 2011 for drugs, bullying and violence. As the country’s only male and female prison, it has a maximum capacity of 840 and boasts a Mother and Baby Unit for 12 mums.

Melanie’s incarceration appears to be based on allegations that she set fire to a neighbours shed - a charge which Melanie denies. Melanie has reported to the UK Column that individuals linked to her bail conditions had been harassing her in recent weeks.　

http://www.ukcolumn.org/article/melanie-shaw-beechwood-child-abuse-witness-held-peterborough-prison

Extract from whatdotheyknow

• Email me when Lilian Greenwood speaks
• View voting record
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Lilian Greenwood (Shadow Minister (Transport); Nottingham South, Labour)

Does the Home Secretary recognise that there have been allegations about historic abuse in a wide range of institutions, including the former Beechwood children’s home in Nottingham? Will she assure my constituents and those of other Nottinghamshire MPs that if they approach the overarching inquiry, their cases will receive a fair and impartial hearing and they will have access to the proper help and support they need? [No mention of Melanie Shaw, although she has been approached.]

Theresa May (The Secretary of State for the Home Department; Maidenhead, Conservative)

I think it important to recognise that the inquiry panel will not itself be able to investigate individual allegations that come forward. It will be looking at what happened in a number of settings such as residential care homes and trying to learn the lessons from that. On individual allegations against a perpetrator, those will be handed on to the police for them to investigate, which is entirely proper. We are working across Government to look at people’s ability to raise cases, the manner in which they will be able to do so, and how those cases will be passed on as appropriate, along with the support given to victims. Together with a number of other MPs, my hon. Friend Tessa Munt raised this matter with me earlier this week, and made a number of suggestions about how to take it forward.

[No recognition that whistleblowers like Melanie Shaw who approach the police can end up in prison on trumped up charges]

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-07-17a.1011.0&s=speaker%3A11420#g1015.3%20

Update 28 July 2014

Melanie is repeatedly moved in HMP Peterborough and her normal medication is withheld

At her court appearance 25 July 2014 the barrister for the Prosecution presents no evidence and no application is made for bail.

The judge asked about the evidence which was still not in his possession. The judge referred to the only evidence being a finger/palm print and pointed out that this is normally a simple matter and they must have had the evidence for them to bring charges.

The prosecution made some fumbling remarks to excuse the lack of evidence but assured it would be available shortly.

It could be October before the court case continues. So Melanie remains on remand in Peterborough until then.

See http://alicemooreuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/nottinghamshire-child-abuse-witness.html

Knowledge-based education versus transferable skills

We are informed that Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) is one of the biggest changes in education for many years. The transformation in education is required because in the 21st century global economy, Scotland must operate at the cutting edge of knowledge. However, knowledge is accumulating at an ever increasing rate which means content has to be constantly updated. Now the task is to equip people to be lifelong learners. Moreover,  new knowledge brings new ethical issues to resolve. For example, in the life sciences genetic engineering can bring benefits for humanity but may also transform society in ways we do not wish. Therefore, we also need to educate citizens so society chooses wisely. So the arguments go.

A strong distinction can be made between traditional education and progressive education although the practice in particular schools may involve any kind of mix between the two types of curriculum.

TRADITIONAL EDUCATION

This is renowned for being authoritarian and hierarchical, with teachers at the head of the class giving instructions and lessons. The curriculum is divided into subject areas and there is an emphasis on memorising content. Learning the alphabet and multiplication tables by rote produces a strong foundation on which to build later learning. Knowledge is transferred to the student who is considered a passive recipient. Textbooks are used as well as pen and paper, worksheets etc. Rationality and factual evidence predominate. The accumulated wisdom of the past is transferred; relativism is frowned upon; truth is valued and there is a recognition of right and wrong. There is a product, that is, knowledge and understanding, which is assessed by objective tests. The capacity for critical thinking and meaningful innovation come at the end of a rigorous knowledge-based education. Competition is inevitable.

PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION

This is portrayed as being egalitarian, child-centred and relevant. There is an emphasis on transferable skills rather than knowledge. Experience and understanding are more important than facts, and so are feelings and creativity. It is the learning process that matters and so pupils must learn how to learn with the aim of being lifelong learners accepting responsibility for their own learning. This is one of the important outcomes of what is often called outcome based education. Co-operation takes precedence over competition. Learners are allowed to be active (find things out for themselves) and have fun. Pupils are grouped together so that collaboration and team work are encouraged. Decisions are made by consensus. Project work is done with multidisciplinary topics to achieve critical thinking; rote learning is frowned upon and multiple intelligences are recognised. Students use multi-sources rather than textbooks and the teacher is merely a facilitator.

Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) in Scotland is clearly moving in the progressive direction. It may be considered by some that that is no bad thing; for too long we have lagged behind our more progressive neighbours. After all, progressive education is a global enterprise. But is abandoning knowledge based education to replace it with the idea of learning transferable skills really the way to go for the 21st century? There are some critics although few in the educational establishment.

Cognitive science points to the limits of working memory and the importance of stored information in long-term memory for critical thinking and creativity. Setting multidisciplinary tasks before pupils have acquired the relevant knowledge in each discipline overloads working memory. Problem solving cannot occur in a vacuum and it is too much to expect each pupil to discover everything for themselves. Googling for information cannot replace a solid grounding in the various disciplines.

The following blogger gives an example of the limits of working memory and how distraction in the classroom, whether through active learning (discovery) or group discussion, reduces the efficiency of learning.

http://www.guerillapolicy.org/education/2013/09/04/why-does-progressive-education-not-work/

In her blog Daisy Christodoulou writes:

In modern education, traditional knowledge often gets a bit of a hard time. Critics of knowledge-based curriculums argue that modern technology has eliminated the need for pupils to remember and memorise vast quantities of knowledge. Not only that, but the rate of modern development means that a lot of knowledge will quickly become obsolete. We need to ‘future-proof’ education by teaching transferable skills which can apply in a range of situations, not knowledge which may soon be irrelevant.

Unfortunately, as plausible as these arguments sound they aren’t backed up by the facts. Firstly, the idea that we can outsource memory to the internet is simply not true. In the words of Dan Willingham, a cognitive scientist who has published a book explaining the latest neuroscientific research for an educational audience:

Data from the last thirty years lead to a conclusion that is not scientifically challengeable: thinking well requires knowing facts…critical thinking processes such as reasoning and problem solving…are intimately intertwined with factual knowledge that is stored in long-term memory.

Skills and knowledge are bound up with each other, and any curriculum which marginalises knowledge is therefore doomed to fail.

http://thewingtoheaven.wordpress.com/2011/12/22/skills-and-knowledge/

UPDATE: Thanks to Sheila here is a link below which shows the same diagram for health and wellbeing (GIRFEC) that is being used in the video above for Curriculum for Excellence: I guess they would call that joined up working !

 http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/Images/HWBposter_tcm4-831087.pdf

David Tombs warned the government 25 years ago

　

"A former social services official has said his warnings about the threat of a Westminster-based paedophile network were ignored because "there were too many of them over there".

"David Tombs, who ran Hereford and Worcester social services, said he warned the government after the arrest of paedophile Peter Righton in 1992. "

"Two inquiries have been launched into historical claims of child abuse. Tim Yeo MP, a junior health minister in the early 1990s, said he was "staggered" by the claims. .."

"The Government is taking the matter seriously. But this is 24-25 years later on from when I was expressing my concern."

"But Mr Yeo said he found Mr Tombs' claims "incredible".  He told the Today programme: "I think it's incredible, the idea that any remotely credible evidence had been shown to a civil servant at the Department of Health would have been ignored and received the comment that it apparently was. "

"There was no culture of child sex abuse that I was aware of either in Whitehall or in Parliament," he added. "The whole thing is extraordinary."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/10963499/Warnings-of-Westminster-paedophile-network-ignored-because-there-were-too-many.html

See also http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tory-child-abuse-whistleblower-i-3848987

Millionaire helps pregnant women flee the UK

A multi-millionaire is helping pregnant women whose babies are deemed at risk to flee the UK.

Ian Josephs has spent over £30,000 helping 200 to avoid having their newborns taken away by social services. He pays for their fares to a new life and offers them free legal advice, even paying for lawyers in some cases.

Around 50 have fled to Ireland on his money while another 150 went to France, Spain and Italy.
Forced adoption opponent Mr Josephs, who runs a language business and has a law degree, has defended his decision to fund their escape, despite many already having children in care.

He said: "Social services have moved away from giving families support and are now too quick to take children away. "I know what I do is controversial. People ask how I know the people I’ve helped don’t go on to do something wicked, but my reply is that even killers are entitled to lawyers.

"These woman are entitled to a fair chance to keep their children if they have not been convicted of any crime of cruelty and aren’t on drink or drugs."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/real-life-stories/millionaire-helping-pregnant-women-flee-3850505#.U8MITGHgl9I.facebook

Abuse in residential and foster care

"The research by York University and the NSPCC is the first of its kind to uncover and analyse local authority records on abuse in foster and residential care."

"Academics tracked abuse allegations – and their outcomes – between 2009 and 2012. They found that on average there are between 450 and 550 cases of proven abuse every year in foster care and between 250 and 300 cases of confirmed abuse a year in residential care."

"In residential care the rate of substantiated abuse claims is significantly higher than for foster families, with an average of between two and three proven cases per 100 children. Steve McCabe, the shadow minister for Children and Families called the findings "shocking", saying that the conclusions of the report "suggests that the current level of supervision, scrutiny and inspection is woefully inadequate".

"It beggars belief that the Government can be planning to outsource even more children's services when these findings indicate that those which are already largely outsourced cannot be relied upon to provide the safe and secure environment that should be a priority for government," he added.

"While the vast majority of foster carers do an excellent job in difficult circumstances, academics found that most abuse or neglect in foster care – more than 88 per cent – is perpetrated by carers. In more than a third of these cases the child was physically harmed and a further 11 per cent were sexually abused."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/major-study-reveals-true-scale-of-abuse-of-children-living-in-care-9587244.html

Nottinghamshire Child Abuse Witness Taken By Police, Now Missing

Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Chris Eyre

A key whistleblowing witness and victim of child abuse at Nottingham Beechwood Children’s Home is effectively missing after sending a text to the UKColumn starting…"pls ring urgent, something has happened n I don’t trust the police and I may be locked up tomorrow…" Sent at 21:22 on Wednesday 9th July 2014 the UK Column has been trying to locate the witness ever since.

This witness has reported to us rape, intimidation, beatings, physical and emotional threats as just some of the abuses suffered by vulnerable young children at Beechwood, but some youngsters were also witnesses to ‘suicides’ - children ‘falling’ from upper windows. Other witnesses report that children’s bodies were hidden on the site.

Fearful for the physical safety of this highly vulnerable witness, who already alleges a police cover-up and is fearful of the police, we contacted Nottinghamshire Police via their 101 phone line.

After speaking to the civilian telephone operator and expressing grave concerns for the safety of the witness, Nottingham police were asked if the witness had been arrested and if they were safe. In a short return call the operator said that a police officer had said that the witness was safe. Unconvinced by the vague reply, we asked the name of the police officer and a shoulder number. The operator said they were unsure. They were also unsure as to whether the witness had been judged ‘safe’ at home, had been arrested and was ‘safe’ in custody, or was in a psychiatric facility.

The UK Column duly asked for clarification from a named police officer with their personal number and was promised a call from such an officer. No such call was received overnight. Our worst fear remains that the witness has been sectioned and held in a psychiatric unit in order to silence them.

http://www.ukcolumn.org/article/nottinghamshire-child-abuse-witness-taken-police-now-missing

See  http://alicemooreuk.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/compensation-for-beechwood-childrens.html

Legal challenge against Named Person plans launched in Edinburgh

Sir Michael Havers intervened to stop the investigation and exposure of Establishment paedophiles

Have systems been set in place for a whitewash?

 

"Sir Michael Havers was appointed as Attorney General by Margaret Thatcher in 1979, and was made Baron Havers in 1987. He intervened three times between 1981 and 1983 to stop the investigation and exposure of Establishment paedophiles, and to prevent the publication of stories which showed that Establishment figures were members of the Paedophile Information Exchange."

"Although none of this implicates Havers’ sister, Baroness Butler-Sloss, in any way, it seems at the very least deeply inappropriate to have someone heading a ‘historic’ child abuse inquiry whose own brother played such a major role in the protection of Establishment paedophiles throughout the 1980s."

Read more http://spotlightonabuse.wordpress.com/

Victims should have the biggest say in who handles the inquiries

Mr McKelvie

Following [the] announcement by Home Secretary Theresa May that there would be two public inquiries into how historical claims of child abuse were dealt with, Mr McKelvie said it was 'crucial' that victims have the biggest say on who carries out the investigations.

One of the inquiries, led by NSPCC chief Peter Wanless, is to review an investigation conducted last year into the Home Office’s handling of past child abuse allegations.

But Mr McKelvie said he was sceptical that the involvement of the NSPCC would encourage victims to come forward because it is widely seen to be the 'charity of the establishment.'

'For many many years [the NSPCC] had people like Rolf Harris and Jimmy Savile associated with the fundraising side of it,' he added.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2684262/Powerful-elite-20-establishment-figures-paedophile-ring-abused-children-decades.html#comments

`Giving Victims a Voice` is a joint report into sexual allegations against Jimmy Savile, co-authored by David Gray, Detective Superintendent MPS and Peter Watt of the NSPCC. Information about victims of Jimmy Savile came from 12 pathways one of which was the NSPCC helpline which Esther Rantzen helped set up and who was also a trustee of the NSPCC. She claims she was aware of the rumours about Savile but did nothing about it. The NSPCC say they only became aware of Savile`s offending in 2008(?)

Whatever the truth of the matter the NSPCC are useless at vetting their volunteers and some branch members are prepared to write references for child abusers.

http://www.nspcc.org.uk/news-and-views/our-news/child-protection-news/13-01-11-yewtree-report/yewtree-report-pdf_wdf93652.pdf

Patricia Macmillan, who was chair of NSPCC’s East Cheshire branch, defended [Stuart] Hall in a letter to the court on the grounds of his charity work.

http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/governance/news/user/Peter%20Wanless/content/15513/nspcc_distances_itself_from_volunteer_supporter_of_stuart_hall

Here`s a rather strange connection between the NSPCC and Jimmy Savile. Sir Rodney Walker, formerly of the NSPCC, bought Jimmy Savile`s seaside Scarborough apartment to use as a holiday home for his family.

No wonder victims are sceptical.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/jimmy-savile-scarborough-flat-bought-1787149#ixzz370i959xF