Page last updated: Wednesday 14 May, 2008 4:05 PM

Rehabilitation Worker Conference.

 

 

The SCA have released details of the 7th Annual Seminar for Rehabilitation Workers working with people with visual impairments and their managers... a nice catchy little title. Does this not show the decline in the value of the professional that they have to add ...and their managers... to the title of their own conference? What next? ...and the people they work with? Surely any manager attracted to the conference would attend anyway - it may even dissuade some people who were thinking of attending.

 

Last month we asked, what is the role of the RW today? - it now seems that the organisation touting itself as the 'professional body' feels that these professionals should be care workers judging by the agenda.

'Best Practice in rehabilitation' is the sub-title, what does this mean? The SCA itself is unable to state what best practice is - it merely follows the legislative lead given by government. The workshops aren't much more than talking points - something most RW's probably do with their co-workers during the working week.

Individual budgets are not new nor are they necessarily best practice - where can I find a suitably qualified professional to teach me how to cross roads safely? Working with the AERBVI - This wasn't the creative thought of anyone at the SCA, it was first raised by the London Rehab Forum over a year ago and they are still pursuing this line? Legal obligations of practice - the RW is bound to deliver services in line with the organisation they for. Maybe our best hope lies in 'other training and career development workshops' - we look forward to seeing more details of exactly what these are.

Sorry, but for £220 we would expect more than that promised so far. We know there are discounts for SCA members but it's still a lot of money for organisations to find - would you spend it to send one of your RW's? On a positive note, the return to a midlands based conference centre has to be applauded - at least the overnight accommodation will not be as expensive.

Finally, it has to be said again, do RW's really want an association that has a strap line of 'Passionate about good practice in Social Care' - does this not reflect where their true aspirations lie?

 

Send us your thoughts on this, or any other article info@rehabworker.co.uk

Responses to this article

Someone with passion…
Yesterday I emailed the site with details of the conference because I wanted fellow workers to be aware of it.  I believe most of those who have gone in recent years have enjoyed it and got things out of it.  However I am prepared for fellow ROVIs to be critical and make suggestions for improvements.  I was not prepared for the site editors to turn this information into a one-sided attack on the conference. 
To answer your points one by one:
We have invited managers because ROVIs often say that their managers don't understand their work and it would be good to include them in the invitations (this is what ROVIs say, not SCA). 
You say that the workshops aren't much more than talking shops.  How do you know this when all that has been supplied to the site is a title?  It is planned that the speakers will include ROVIs who have implemented individual budgets.  Personally, I am slightly nervous about how IBs will work, and I am guessing others are too.  How else do you expect ROVIs to learn about this policy initiative as it effects them at the grass roots?  A conference workshop seems a good way, surely.
In raising the subject of AERBVI, nowhere have SCA claimed this was their idea.  It was first raised by London Rehab. Forum and that's great and we are glad you did.  However at present, in lieu of nobody else doing it, we are trying to negotiate with them.
For the session "Legal Obligations of Practice", you say "The RW is bound to deliver services in line with the organisation they work for".  Is life ever that simple!! There are plenty of situations where the guidelines given are not clear, or where you feel you need legal back up or where your local authority does not understand risk in relation to RO work.  So to just dismiss this title in such a simplistic way does not do the subject credit.  The subject of negligence in ROVI work at last year's conference was skillfully delivered and lapped up with real enthusiasm.  Would you really have dismissed that session title as well?
Yes, SCA appreciates that £220 is not in every authority's budget, but it’s cheaper than £500 that national vi organisations charge for a one day training course. Part of the enjoyment of the conference is also the networking and the chance to recharge batteries and have a good moan.  
As I explained in my email to the site yesterday, I am very happy to hear any suggestions readers have for sessions.
I understand it is good to have a controversial note to get discussion going, but you fail to recognise that ordinary front line workers have actually contributed to this programme and its planning and it is quite demoralising to hear it dismissed so lightly.
Thank you for this, its good to see someone feels positive about the conference. What do the rest of you think? E-mail your views.

A believer…
I was amazed by the heading of your comment on the SCA conference. In a lower article you talk about too much negativity and lets highlight the good points and then have the ominous tombstone.
The SCA may not be the BEST vehicle to promote us but it is the only one we have and is only as good as OUR contribution to it. Any organisation has to have the backing, participation and enthusiasm of its membership - no-one does it for us.
We have to project a more professional image instead of being reactionary and thinking ourselves different from any other professional group of workers. We are perceived by many as negative and protectionist of our role and unless we can present a more positive image we will see the demise of our role. And the losers won't be us, it will be the visually impaired people who need a designated service to enable them to fulfil their potential.
Thank you for responding to the article. We may have misunderstood your thoughts but the lower article is a response not a follow on. The tombstone was placed as a depiction of where the writer of the original article feels the ‘Specialist’ worker is heading. As with the first response, you make some valid points, it’s good to see some feeling and belief – as always, we like to voice different opinion and open the debate.

Yet another view…
I have read the article and the responses and I agree and disagree. I don’t think it serves any real purpose to undermine the SCA yet they do deserve criticism. The article illustrates the point that the content of the conference is driven by legislation rather than professional development. Why on earth can’t we have people talking about their work with service users rather than how they’ve set up payment schemes or some other administrative task. I am more likely to get funded to attend if I can show how it will benefit the users of the service. We will only survive if we can show our managers how our work changes peoples lives.
The article has got you thinking, which I guess is what the author wanted. It’s another valid point; change the focus of the content? I’m sure the SCA will listen to any suggestions you have – give them a call.

Someone with passion (again)...
I think that last comment is very fair.  I agree it is frustrating to feel that OUR conference might be being totally driven by legislation and I would be equally frustrated to have gone there and only been talked at and lectured on our need to change - a conference should make us feel better about ourselves and make us want to go out and do what we do best.  I am confident that the conference will be a mix of sessions that help us work with our clients better (CPD) and stuff that tries to inform us about what's going on - some of it nice, some of it scarey!
Keep ‘em coming! ALL views will be posted – have your say!

Someone who is very happy…
I, too, was shocked at the negative tone of the first post about the SCA conference. Personally, I have found each and every SCA conference I have been to very useful and informative - both in terms of the workshops and key note speakers AND the opportunity to talk with other ROVIs AND their managers. As well as new knowledge, I always come back from the conference with a renewed energy for rehab work and immediately bombard my colleagues and managers with ideas for new services; suggestions for better practice or pressing questions that have been raised at the conference. One good example of this were the queries I had for senior managers at my local authority regarding liability issues whilst undertaking mobility and ILS work following the extremely useful (and very well delivered) workshop on negligence at last year's seminar. We have since changed some of our procedures to better protect both workers and service users.
I also think that the SCA do their best to move the conference around the country so that at least every couple of years there is one that most workers can get to fairly easily. The previous 4 have been in Wolverhampton, Bristol, Doncaster and London.
Given the low numbers of ROVIs who are members of the SCA, I'm personally, and professionally, very glad that the SCA is sticking with us and continuing to organise this unique ROVI training and networking event at what I consider to be a reasonable price.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. We’re sure there are many more of you who have an opinion – let us know.

Someone who is not…
I agree with the sentiment of the article, what have the SCA actually done for ROVI’s? Yes, the conference is a great idea and I hold up my hands and say ‘job well done’. Over the years they have done little to promote the work of ROVI’s in a meaningful way. I have noticed recently that the regional representatives, or some of them, are starting to shout from the rooftops – hopefully they will change things.
By the way, how does one get elected to be a representative?
Interesting? Let us know - If you are a representative of the SCA how were you elected? If you're interested in becoming a representative please contact the SCA direct - www.socialcaring.co.uk