My family own adn run a private nursing home and my dislike and suspicion of social workers is legendary. You'd be astounded at the number of them who don't even question the hospital's decision to load an elderly patient with sedatives to keep them quiet and they then get sniffy when we try and wean back off the damn things. Most of the time they haven't got a clue what is going on with their cases. I remember a man called Chris who came, "Yes, he's fine to be left on his own in the office while you show me the room" the social worker says. By the time we got back downstairs the care assistants are cowering in the day room while a thoroughly excited Chris has despatched 2 windows, a fax, a computer and printer, a sink and a radiator cover to the great office in the sky. Social workers are more concerned with whether the paintwork in the home is fresh and sparkly and whether the wood floor has a cig burn in than the programme of outings and drug withdrawal schemes that we create. And god forbid you finally lose it and tell one of the do gooder idiots fresh from their college course that perhaps after 20 years of growing up in this environment you might have a better idea of what you're talking about than they do. If you do that then you won't get another referral until they move on and are replaced with another clone. They drive me mental.