Barnet resident writes to Adults and Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee
“Dear Councillors,
I am writing to you as members of the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee. You have a duty to ‘scrutinise the Health and Social Care Infrastructure and Services’ and in this regard I am writing to ask you URGENTLY address the ongoing crisis in the Mental Health Social Work Service.
It appears that despite our Mental Health Social Workers now being on strike for an unprecedented total of 72 days, I am appalled to note that your committee has not had a report or a discussion on the issue, when it is your responsibility as our elected representatives to ensure any Barnet service is safe and effective.
Mental Health Social workers are as highly trained and skilled as social workers in other departments and I would argue can carry higher risks and yet are NOT paid at the same rate as other Barnet Social Workers. The Barnet Mental Health Service is loosing social work staff as I write. Inexperienced staff and managers now have to run the service. Morale is rock bottom. Waiting lists are unacceptably long. The reputation of Barnet as an employer is being damaged probably beyond repair. The strike is gaining support across the country and has been raised in Parliament as workers take this difficult and painful stand to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised. Why would anyone want to work here?
I understand that the money is available to settle this dispute. Your committee needs to question why it is still dragging on, apparently without member involvement, and to whose benefit, and to require an immediate resolution. Perpetuating this dispute is certainly not in the interests of the staff, the clients and residents or the reputation of a Labour led London Borough.
Most alarmingly it appears that the young man who attacked and killed Anita Mukhey in Burnt Oak Broadway last Thursday, as reported by national and local press, may have had mental health issues.
Seven more weeks of strike action are planned, yet this dispute could be solved tomorrow with no impact to the budget. How much more risk are you prepared to take?
Yours sincerely
A Barnet resident.”
End.