As a registered locum you receive these newsletters each month with job vacancies, training opportunities, special events and the latest developments in the social work profession. If you would prefer us to send it to a different email address just let us know. You can also unsubscribe at any time using the link at the foot of this newsletter.

Regular readers should be aware that both Amicus and SocialWork 2000 are very active in the Association of Social Work Employment Businesses (ASWEB).

For the third year each company has been through an intensive audit which thoroughly examines every aspect of our recruitment practice with a particular emphasis on safeguarding and the care of locums.

Each year the standards are reviewed and the requirements changed in order to constantly strive for improvement. One small error on one locum file on one element of compliance can score against us.

SocialWork 2000 were audited on 17th June and Amicus Recruit on 18th July. This is the first time in 3 years that any company in the Association has achieved 100% and this year both our companies achieved it.

Congratulations to all our team at every level because this is a TOTAL team effort. Words can't describe the pride that Ben and myself feel in our people!

Very very special praise has to go to Nikki Mills in High Wycombe and Chanel Taylor in Battle who have worked with such determination to lead our compliance efforts to such a high score.

They are now setting their sights on maintaining these successes in the coming years! Well done!!

The GSCC have brought to our attention the response to the Munro Review of Child Protection which was published on 13th July. This is the letter which includes the link to the response...

Dear Colleagues,

Just over a year ago, the Government established the Munro Review of Child Protection, the very first review established in the Department for Education, underlining the enormous priority this Government places on getting child protection right. On 13th July 2011 the Government published its formal response to the Munro Review of Child Protection. The response was advised by an Implementation Working Group (IWG) drawing on expertise from local authority children's services, the voluntary sector, the social work profession, education, police and health services.

The Government accepts Professor Munro's fundamental argument that the child protection system has lost its focus on the one thing that matters most – helping children and young people. The review presents us with significant opportunities as well as significant challenges. These challenges are not for central Government alone. The Government is committed to working in partnership on the detailed work that now needs to take place to help support that journey.

Please see the attached link to view a Ministerial letter from Tim Loughton to social workers and the accompanying Government response.

Yours,

The Department for Education

Our Managing Director Ben Arnold is in serious training for an attempt to swim the English Channel as part of a relay team this month. If you wish to follow their progress or make a donation please follow this link. We look forward to a full report in next month's newsletter!

Andy Dalton, Tony Roche, Ben Arnold and Joe Ward are all training hard to swim across the English Channel from Dover to Calais along with Team Captain Mick Ellis.

This year's challenge aims to raise money directly towards BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Servicemens Association). We are all members of Hastings & Bexhill Rugby Club, and our cross channel weather window is between August 7th to 12th which is when we will be hoping for calm waters.

You can find out how we are doing, see our training logs and view pictures of our preparations by visiting the Hastings & Bexhill RFC web pages. The links to our current news items are:

http://www.hastingsrugby.org.uk/dyn/_news/harolds-revenge.shtml
and http://www.hastingsrugby.org.uk/dyn/_news/channel-swim-update.shtml

Mags joined SocialWork 2000 in 2008 as a Recruitment Adviser , having worked for us as a Locum Social Worker. She brings a wealth of experience and a great sense of humour to her work.

Here she tells us about her 'Secret Life'.

My secret life... I love Disney films

My parents were... Geordies. My father didn't want to go down the mines like his brothers so he became a policeman

The house/flat I grew up in... Police houses in Yorkshire until I was 11 then in Luton till 15. We then moved to a lovely big house in Bedford.

When I was a child I wanted to be a... Be an actress..

If I could change one thing about myself... I would be younger!

You wouldn't know it but I'm very good at... knowing long words, very good at speaking in different accents!

You wouldn't know it but I'm no good at... ballroom dancing

At night I dream of... warm places

What I see when I look in the mirror... I wonder who that old woman is

I wish I'd never... emerald green culottes in the 1980s

I drive... my kids mad

My house is... my heaven

My favourite work of art... a sculpture by Barbara Hepworth

It's not fashionable but I like... Time Team

My favourite building... Cezare Manrique's house in Lanzarote

My secret crush is... Neil Olive from Coast

Movie heaven... The Man with two Brains

A book that changed me... Papillion

My greatest regret... Not being brave enough to give up my job and travel in my early twenties

My real-life villains... Bigots

The last time I cried... laughing at my delightful granddaughter

My five-year plan... Meet handsome millionaire and retire in luxury

My life in six words... Content, fulfilled, busy, settled, friendful, OK

A life in brief... Two marriages, two kids, two grand kids, lovely friends

Fancy living and working by the sea?

SocialWork 2000 is about to open up new opportunities in the South West.

Preparation work has been taking place since March, and over the coming months you should begin to see jobs appearing on our website in places such as Cornwall, Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Bristol and parts of South Wales.

If you would like to register your interest in working in any of these areas, or would like further information, please contact Vicki in the Milton Keynes office:

Email Vicki or call 01908 547880.

Social Worker
East Anglia and Midlands

 

Qualified Social Worker
Central London

 

Qualified Social Worker
Cambridge

 

Senior Social Worker
North London

 

Qualified Social Worker
Buckinghamshire

 

Qualified Social Worker
North London

 

Social Worker
Great Yarmouth

 

Qualified Social Worker
East London

 

Qualified Social Worker
Leicester

 

Assistant Team Manager
South London

For further information simply click above or call us on 01494 555 220.