GIVE SOCIAL WORKERS 10% OF WORKING TIME FOR TRAINING AND SUPPORT

IN the 5th step of a 10 stage campaign, UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector union, is calling for social workers to be given the right to 10% of their working time for continuing professional development. Social workers also need time for related activities like reflective practice, mentoring colleagues, supporting students and supporting their peers.

Helga Pile, UNISON national officer for social work, said:- “10% of working time for training and support adds up to just over 3 hours a week for social workers. Surely this is not too much to ask? In such a high-pressure environment, where decisions can mean life changes for clients, it’s important that staff get the time they need to make sure their skills are up to date. Social workers have to deal with complex lives and complicated legislation. Like other professionals such as lawyers and teachers they need to continue developing their knowledge and expertise throughout their careers.  We also think it is vital that experienced social workers have time available to help newly qualified staff learn the ropes. So often newly qualified social workers feel like they are dropped in at the deep end – it's literally sink or swim. But it's times like this when mistakes can happen, so giving them access to a mentor to guide and support them would be a huge step forward.  Reflective practice is about making sure when decisions are made, they are the right ones, and that staff learn any lessons they need. Training and development is not a luxury - it is about making sure children and vulnerable adults get the best possible support and protection.”

Together with Community Care, UNISON has developed a social work contract, setting out a 10-point plan for boosting child protection. Each week, the union is writing to key stakeholders in social work, including the children's minister, shadow minister, and the Local Government Association, highlighting one point of the plan, and calling on them to give social workers their backing.

Master Barber’s Shop Brings Style to Resort

SOUTHPORT'S Wayfarers Shopping Arcade is proving it really is a cut above with the addition of a traditional men’s barbers shop.  Owner of The Master Barber’s Shop, Robert Rix, has many years’ experience in hairdressing and has previously worked at premier salons in London’s West End, Kensington and Knightsbridge.

Master Hairdresser Robert, who lives in Birkdale, aims to bring a quality, personal men’s grooming service to Southport, with an emphasis on customer service, skill and hygiene.

“I will offer a full service to my clients, bringing back many of the forgotten arts, such as sculpture cutting, precision razor cutting, hot towel shaves, singeing and head and neck massage. I will also run an advisory service for my clients where I will recommend what treatments or styles might suit them best. I think men are more fashion conscious now than they have ever been.” says Robert, whose shop opened at the Lord Street arcade last week.

Robert is also one of just a handful of qualified wigmakers in the UK who can make bespoke wigs, often for chemotherapy patients, but also for fashion. The Master Barber’s Shop has a separate consultation room so clients can discuss their needs and have measurements taken in privacy. The human hair wigs take around six to eight weeks to make.

Manager of the Wayfarers Shopping Arcade Yvonne Burns said:- “We already have some top-class hair and beauty outlets for women in the arcade and we are so pleased to be able to offer men the same high-quality, personal service. The Master Barber’s Shop is an ideal addition to our eclectic mix of retailers and we are sure it will be a big hit with our customers.”

Robert, originally from Yorkshire, began his career as an apprentice to a gentleman’s hairdresser, aged 15 and hopes to take on his own apprentice barber in the future.