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Social Workers are not Nazis
August 29, 2012 permalink
Facebook has removed a page that showed social workers next to Nazi swastikas. Facebook is not commenting on why, but the enclosed article from a social worker website claims it is because of complaints from social workers. It might also be because Nazis objected to the slanderous comparison. An associated website UK Social Workers Exposed is still active.
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Social workers secure Facebook victory over 'vile' hate site
Facebook said the social work hate site did not comply with its rules
Complaints by social workers led Facebook to ban a 'vile and offensive' web page that published social workers' names and photographs online alongside Nazi imagery.
The Facebook page, called UK Social Workers Exposed, featured Nazi symbolism and claimed to expose social workers' identities in the best interests of parents and children. “Here on this website we will expose the social workers that have stolen and continue to steal the children of the UK,” the site’s mission statement reads.
The names and photographs of around 20 social workers and Cafcass guardians were on the site and a related facebook page, with the site's creators asking web users to share more names.
Some photographs include further details, such as the number of children the social worker is believed to have taken into care.
After being alerted to the site by Community Care on Twitter and Facebook, social workers complained to Facebook asking them to remove the site.
In a statement to Community Care, a Facebook spokesman said: "The page has been removed as it broke Facebook’s terms as set out in our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. Whilst we don’t comment on individual cases, content can be removed for a number of reasons such as infringements of intellectual property or being created by a fake account."
However, while the Facebook site is now down, the associated website is still live.
Community Care understands that one local authority is considering taking legal action against the website, on the grounds that it incites violence and hatred. The College of Social Work (TCSW) is contacting employers whose staff have been named.
Social workers expressed their outrage on social networking sites, with many urging colleagues to ensure they have protected the personal information they store online.
Nushra Mansuri, professional officer at the British Association of Social Workers, said she was “sickened” by the site, which she described as “vile” and “disturbing”.
“BASW roundly condemns the organisation calling itself UK Social Workers Exposed. Such websites should be removed as they incite hatred and worse against a number of professional groups involved in child protection, including social workers.
She continued: “I actually think the same laws applicable to dealing with for example, far right groups need to be applied. Websites of this kind have no place in a democratic society and expose its proponents as those who do not value the rights of children to be protected by the state when they are being abused.”
Ruth Allen, spokesperson for TCSW, said the College "strongly condemns this offensive website, which seems to be targeting and ‘exposing’ a random list of social workers, many of them simply because they work in the field of child protection".
Source: Community Care
Addendum: A news source reports the story, but gives only the social worker side.
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Anger as social workers are exposed on website
SOCIAL workers who have investigated cases where children were removed from unfit families are being ‘named and shamed’ on a website branded ‘deplorable’ by officials.
Sheffield and Derbyshire social services staff are identified on the website, which The Star has decided not to name.
Both councils are now taking legal advice about what action they can take to have the names removed.
The website, which proclaims ‘Judgement Day is Coming Social Services’, includes pictures of individual social workers and links to their profiles on social networking website Facebook.
It accuses the staff of ‘stealing’ children.
The website says: “This Government Gestapo organisation is stealing children using bullying and threatening behaviour against vulnerable parents to remove their children with unfounded accusations and lies.”
Jayne Ludlam, of Sheffield Council, said: “Social work is a challenging job which involves working with families in often difficult circumstances, where no decision is ever taken lightly.
“All decisions relating to the legal status of children or removing them must meet the court threshold and a judge makes the final decision.
“Social workers are professionals and there are proper, official channels through which they are held publicly accountable for their actions.
“Web pages like this are deplorable and do not benefit any party involved whether they are the worker, the parents or the child.”
A Derbyshire County Council spokesman said: “Social workers have a tough job to do. We only take action to remove children from their parents after the courts have decided we should do so.
“Websites like this are unhelpful and we are looking into what action we can take to get details of our staff removed.”
Nobody from the website was available for comment.
Source: The Star (UK)
Social workers are appealing to UK government bodies for help in getting rid of the UK Social Workers Exposed website. They are also contemplating legal action.
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Governments slam 'appalling' social worker hate site
Creators of UK Social Workers Exposed urged to reconsider their actions and warned that undermining social workers increases risks to children.
Governments across the UK have condemned the "appalling" website that has exposed social workers and other professionals involved in care proceedings.
They urged the creators of UK Social Workers Exposed to reconsider their actions and warned that undermining the work of social workers placed children at risk. The site's creators claim social workers and other professionals are "stealing" children from families through the child protection system.
The interventions by the Westminster and Scottish governments follows news that employers of social workers named on the site are considering legal action to remove the names, and the decision by Facebook to remove a page set up by the site's creators following complaints by social workers.
“We rely on our social workers," said a spokesperson for the UK government's Department for Education. "Every day they make difficult decisions about to how keep vulnerable children safe, often in very challenging circumstances. Any attempt to undermine their hard work is appalling, and risks the safety of thousands of children.”
“The Scottish government would urge the creators of this site to reconsider their actions," said a spokesperson for the Holyrood administration. "If a member of the public has a genuine complaint about a social worker, they should speak to their local authority about their concerns.”
Northern Ireland's Department of Health also backed the role of social workers though it did not comment on UK Social Workers Exposed.
"Social workers do a very challenging job on behalf of society to promote and safeguard the well-being and safety of children and vulnerable adults," said a spokesperson. "They work in partnership with families and with other professionals and agencies to assess and meet people’s needs."
Source: Community Care
