The document discusses concerns around upcoming reductions in funding for social care services. It notes that reducing preventative work could lead to increases in youth crime, gangs, and child protection reports. Specifically, it mentions cuts to youth support activities, parenting support, housing benefits, nursing home funding, and charities. The document expresses worries about the impact on vulnerable groups like teenagers, the ability to identify those in need early, and the pressure it may put on overstretched social services. It closes by mentioning the grief of social care staff facing job losses and poor treatment during the consultation process.

1. Prayer for Social Care – 9th December 2010
Do not fear bad news
People of God to step up
Protection for the vulnerable
Consequences of reducing preventative work
Youth crime
Gangs
Who else has the skills to deal with acute cases
Cease all youth support activities
Pressure to fail at home in order to get care
Loss of parenting support
Loss of good work
Projects that make a difference being cut
Can’t see vulnerable teenagers often enough
Child protection reporting going up
Won’t be able to identify youth in need early
Reduced funding for nursing homes
Less housing benefit means care homes will cut corners
Resilience theory – bounce back ability
Drive to report to social services, but they are too stretched to act
Austerity leading to reduced funding for charities
Do the voluntary sector have the skills?
Church giving is going down
Opportunity for the voluntary sector
Wisdom for decision makers
Staff grief, pain, loss, lack of sleep
Don’t like how staff have been treated
Pastoral care
Jobs deleted
Not good practice to give people notice on Fridays
90 day consultation
Do the wider public know about this, and feel able to stand up
Lobbying councilors – misinformation
Next Meeting: 8pm Thursday 13th January 2011 (change of date)