Online Petition

This petition calls on General Social Care Council (GSCC) to withdraw Deidre Saundre’s (The Sun’s Agony Aunt) invitation to GSCC annual conference .

After having instigated a public witch hunt against social workers which heightened public anger and mistrust towards the profession, undid much good work that had been done and contributed to widespread low morale within the profession, in the worst fit of pandering to media, the government rewarded her by placing Deidre Saundre on social work taskforce. A woman who in her own words “Knows nothing about social work” and who had openly demonised social work and social workers was appointed to determine the future of this profession.

And now, General Social Care Council (GSCC), the regulatory body for social workers, rewards her by inviting her as a speaker in GSCC’s annual conference.  The irony of it is the conference is entitled “Social Work: a profession to be proud of”.

There are those who have argued that social workers must allow an open debate and be ready to listen to the opinions of those who disagree with them. They suggest that her presence in GSCC is meant to promote debate and open discussion.

In response to this argument, we assert:

1.  Social workers are more than accepting and welcome an open debate. However, this is not a question of open debate. This is a question of professional dignity and personal integrity and respect.
2. Deidre Saundre and her paper were never interested to hear social workers’ side of the story, nor were they interested in any fact finding. For the nth time, they openly and unscrupulously manipulated and exploited the tragedy of a child’s death to stir up (again) public outrage towards social workers and portrayed themselves as the heroes with the solution for solving the problems in social work.
3. Deidre Saundre has no expertise or knowledge of social work or social workers and is not qualified in the least to offer opinions, advise and/or views in relation to social work. Should GSCC or anyone else wish to engage the media, or anyone else who can offer an opinion or present a view, we ask/request that you engage journalists and/or activists and/or others who have had some, preferable extended, experience with social work and/or social workers and who maintain and adhere to a minimum of personal and professional integrity.
4. There are many advocates and critiques of social work who could be invited as a speaker or for open debate to GSCC conference (People who can bring some substance and a genuine point of interest to the table). Not only does the presence of Deidre Saundre undermine the credibility of GSCC and its conference, but it also offends thousands of hard working and dedicated social workers who will never ever understand the contorted logic of GSCC’s invitation.
5. If due to some sophistry GSCC thinks that they are trying to promote debate, and to raise the profile of social work, let them be guided by the example of other more professional bodies (Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing, Metropolitan Police Service, and many more) who have not invited, and would never dream of inviting, someone like Deidre Saundre to their usual meetings let alone inviting her as a speaker to their national conference.

In view of the above we ask GSCC to withdraw Deidre Saundre’s invitation to GSCC annual conference, and invite all social workers to join this online petition  calling on GSCC to withdraw Deidre Saundre’s invitation to GSCC annual conference.

You have the option of signing this online petition in an anonymous manner. Meaning your identity (name, or other details) will not be revealed on the petition. Hence, your anonymity will be preserved at all times, even after joining this petition, if you so indicate.

We hope that all social workers join this petition in order to send a strong unequivocal message to GSCC.

Social work has been plagued by a sense of apathy for too long. It is time for social workers to take charge of their profession and their future.

The destiny and professional dignity of this noble profession is in our hands. We hope through our united action we can give expression to the silent pains of a voiceless profession.

To join the petition please click the link below and complete the relevant details. If you wish to maintain anonymity, after joining the petition please email action@standupforsocialwork.org stating that you wish to maintain your info confidential, and we shall ensure that your name and email are masked.

One last thing, if you do not wish to receive promotional emails from various websites then when joining the petition, please make sure to un-tick the box:  “Yes, I want iPetitions to contact me on similar campaigns or petitions”.

Click here to join the petition.