Knowledge Solutions. A message to the Social Services
June 26, 2008
The social and non government sectors have long been known for not readily sharing helpful information with each other. Competitive funding rounds frequently create competition, secrecy and suspicion among agencies and workers. We are all just so precious at times. Licensing, accreditation, low wages and high case loads, lead to high staff turnover, burn out and in house bickering. Is it any wonder I now work in the private sector!
Case management is supposedly about knowledge solutions and resource sharing. In rhetoric it works well. In reality, I am appalled at the lack of professionalism and client focus across the human services. We are quick to judge, point fingers and blame others for an overall unruly sector that continues to dance to the under funded drum.
Some years ago I chose to stop dancing to Government funding and set outcomes and to instead work in a collaborative way with a focus on client need. I treat my clients as the boss and offer them the respect they deserve. I work to best practice, even though the budget often reflects not being able to work that way. In the private sector, I make that choice because I decide what is most worthy.
Despite my move away from Government control and my firm belief that child protection is everybody’s responsibility, I still operate across a social service sector that is not terribly skilled in sharing resources. Stop it! Stop trying to protect your own ego, position or skill level. Pay it forward: share your knowledge and skill with an expectation of making the world a better place for everybody. Stop maintaining the staus quo. Instead do something differently.
I have recently entered a collaborative partnership with Knowledge Solutions. A small group of professionals, all with expertise in different areas and a passion to do business differently, we are set to share some communication resources designed to improve individual life, business life and community life. I’ll be blogging to Knowledge Solutions weekly and I would love to hear business feedback and reflective comments from you in the community sector.
Knowledge Solutions: Placing the future in your hands and supporting collaborative business infrastructure
Why? Because child protection is serious business!
Comments
4 Responses to “Knowledge Solutions. A message to the Social Services”
Got something to say about the above post or child safety in general?
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Sounds like a great way to instigate change, Megan.
Knowledge is power and we can have far more power in large numbers than as individuals - Surely we want as much strength as we can get to fight child abuse!
We keep no secrets.
Hey A….not many days now until you get here. I am excited.
I’m like you - no secrets. Share and change occurs.
Wait till you and I and the kewl chicks get together!!!!!!!!!
Sigh…Know exactly what you’re talking about. Seems governments are the same the world over. Worked for mine most of my adult life and used to get so angry about all the little empire bulding games played out in the various departments, agencies and offices!
If only there more people out there like you.
Yes! It is the empire building and preciousness that does my head in. While there are many very hard working and decent government workers, there are an equal number of inadequates who should be ashamed of their appalling practice and manipulation. Having said that though, the community and private sectors also have their share of charlatans.
Where have ethics and best practice gone? The capitalist individualistic model that we all love is screwing child protection, our kids, over .