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Write to Community Living @ simonjarrett1@outlook.com f @communityLivingMagazine t @commlivingmag Letters may be edited
The perilous cult of charisma Meader’s view
I was interested to read Noelle Blackman
and Lynne Tooze’s excellent article on Jean
Vanier, the disgraced founder of L’Arche
(Accusing saints: when no on listens,
summer 2020).
As the Vanier story tells us, we make a
cult out of charismatic leaders at our peril.
Vanier had all the makings of a saint –
apparently humble, deeply religious,
devoted to the poor and vulnerable and
self-sacrificing. Except beneath all of this
lurked a sexual abuser. It was this humble
charisma that gave him his cover and
his protection.
As one of his victims who courageously
gave testimony to the inquiry reported:
“I was like frozen. I realised that Jean
Vanier was adored by hundreds of people,
like a living saint, that he talked about
how he helped victims of sexual abuse. It
appeared like a camouflage and I found it
difficult to raise the issue.”
Of course, not all charismatic people are
abusers. The lesson is that, however much provider, decided she no longer needed Commissioners are weak and cowardly
we might feel we admire someone, we sleep-in support (summer 2019; www. Commissioners don’t take responsibility
should never put a leader above the led, cl-initiatives.co.uk/crisis-long-journey-back). for their actions and don’t challenge
and never raise anyone to a level where No one is saying some people cannot themselves and their teams. They appear
criticism of them is seen as a wrong in itself. manage differently. However, this means to be cowards in the main.
The adoration of Vanier and his cult-like knowing the person and their past There are plenty of people having great
status silenced his victims until after his responses to stress, and having a plan to lives in the community after escaping
death. We are yet to find out how many test changes with them, not just apply institutions but commissioners don’t
more silenced victims will come forward, them. Someone may be managing well understand how to commission the right
and we will never know how many will because of the support they have. and best support much of the time.
always remain silent. Maybe social work teams in Lancashire Amanda Katie Louise, via Facebook
People are more important than ideas, have failed to override needs and wishes
and we must never let beliefs override what or have found no good reason to move Private hospitals see us as cash cows
we see happening before our eyes. When people from where they are happy, even Our family members are just treated as an
cults develop in organisations, in societies, if their home has vacancies. Vacancies “income stream” for so many private
in politics or in communities, it generally incur costs to the local authority. hospitals. It’s appalling and must end now.
means only one thing – the victimisation Now, the council is to spend just over Gail Rainford, via Facebook
and exploitation of the vulnerable. £1 million a year for two years on a housing
JS team to save more than £2 million CQC doesn’t listen to us…
Birmingham annually; this will move people out of Odd isn’t it, how reports of the
homes with vacancies. It proposes experienced differ so much to Care Quality
Needs pushed aside by budgets “decommissioning” places that have had a Commission reports, who just happen to
Have we lost social workers who are willing vacancy for over a year. be part-funded by the providers. The CQC
to stand by their assessments and challenge However, the council does not have the business model and how they “regulate” is
commissioning managers who seem more right to move people from their home as it strikingly similar to big pharma and how
concerned to cut services and save money? is not the landlord – people have tenancy the World Health Organization operates.
Too many social workers are in a system rights. People may not understand that @whileincare, via Twitter
where they do not know their service housing and care support rights are
users for the long term. They have to close separate. Advocacy can be sidestepped by … unless it suits the providers
cases as soon as they have done their encouraging families to act in this role even If CQC inspectors hear a patient say
assessments, and will not necessarily then when they do not understand the laws. something “nice”, it is included almost
be allocated them for the next review. Jane Lloyd’s story may also be repeated verbatim. If anyone tries to raise a
People are then assessed with records if people are moved when there is no concern, they’re told it is a “complaint”
that may not show their long-term history. awareness of the consequences this may and can’t be handled by the CQC. If you
We saw what can result from this in Jane have on their lives and wellbeing. do an FOI for what information it uses for
Lloyd’s story about what happened to her RT inputs, the CQC can’t tell you.
sister when the authorities, with the Lancashire @Garmisch69, via Twitter

6 Vol 34 No 1 | Autumn 2020 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk