Unless we forget thirty years on?
June 4, 2009
An excellent article by Adam Sampson in the Society Guardian this week. The former Chief Executive of Shelter like many of us reaching middle age highlighted the passion and vocation of the idealism held by many people in social care thirty years ago in making a real difference to peoples lives. As Adam says in his article “sitting on a train (suited an booted) surrounded by other middle aged men, it was hard to remember exactly why what I was doing was meant to be different.” His punch line says it all, “the focus (today) on getting the cash and delivering the contract has taken the attention away from the person who should matter most….the (service user).”
In today’s world of MP expenses and lack of clear leadership let us not forget why many of us came into Social Care and Health Care, to make a real difference to peoples lives can there be a more honourable profession in looking to support and help the less well off in our society at a time when our leaders appear to have lost their way and morale compass? Yes we live in a world of contracts and key performance indicators but let us not forget the human story at the heart of all we do, the everyday lives of people.