By Gavin Mackintosh-
Social Services Is avoiding a drug testing policy after the eye of media.com informed them of users in their midst.
Following our wide research into social workers and drug use, it has emerged that social workers in a number of boroughs use class A drugs. Reliable sources have divulged this information to us and we have gone as far as contacting the Department of health, who have categorically stated it is within the remit of each borough to implement this.
The eye of media.com spoke to former social workers, present social workers, very close acquaintances of social workers, and have concluded that drug testing is necessary in social services. The alarming amount of failings, negligence, and misconduct committed by social workers is frightening. Social workers do a very important job, but it is simply unacceptable to have social workers who take class A drugs whilst working in a sensitive job like social services.
However, the shocking truth is that a number of social workers do take class A drugs. The stress and workload many of them have complained about, and many of which have led to a shameful level of negligence is too much. It has led some of them to using class A drugs, though it is also true that a number have come into the job using class A drugs. There is no deterrence for them, as it is easy to see that drug testing does not take place.
The eye of media.com have confronted a number of boroughs with our findings, speaking both to social workers and press section in various boroughs. We have managed to sneak in n social workers in person and on the phone, finding out their views about drug testing.
Most of those we have spoken to have not sounded troubled by the idea, but the moment we speak to the authorities in the respective boroughs, things change. When we presented our findings to Southend Borough in Essex, telling them of evidence we had of some class A users amongst their social workers, we were told to provide the evidence but refused any subsequent update on their finding or how they would go about verifying our claim.
Social Services Have Abuse Policy
The borough said they have a clear abuse policy, without saying how that policy can be enforced. Without a system of drug testing, a policy against hard drugs is useless The eye of media.com does not seek to police the situation of drug use, but a profession like social services which is highly important and sensitive, it must be adjudged to be completely unacceptable.
The borough wanted the outcome of our investigation, but will not reveal to us what the outcome of their s will be. No deal! We insisted on a fair deal in which we are kept informed of the outcome and we are told how they would confirm the allegation. Without drug testing, there is no confirmation. However, when we covertly approached one of their leading investigators based in Grays, the high standing officer suggested ‘deep sampling’ in some cases can be conducted in the case where there is a denial of a positive allegation of drugs use.
Boroughs in London like Islington and Camden were open to the idea of drug testing, but not Walthamstow, Southwark , or Basildon. There is no drug testing in any practically any social services in the U.K. however, there needs to be one and the eye of media.com will lead the campaign for one. The eye of media.com have contacting the H.C.P.C that regulates social services about this, and they are closely looking at it. They would have to discuss it in detail at top level. We will wait patiently.
A Southend-on-Sea Borough Council spokesman, said:
“Whilst the council does not carry out alcohol or substance testing on staff at the current time, we have a clear alcohol and substance abuse policy and a disciplinary procedure to address any breaches of that or indeed any other policy that we have in place. It is not our policy to reveal the individual details or outcomes of investigations, and we have been very clear about our investigation protocols.
“However we need to make it clear that we have not got to the investigation stage. Having asked for a formal report to be made and for further details to be given to us, to date this has not been forthcoming. Without further details or evidence to substantiate the allegations being made, we cannot formally investigate or comment any further.”
We will be focusing on other boroughs in subsequent articles.