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Coronavirus and health inequalities: supporting BAME communities

BAME people wearing covid-19 face masks

Coronavirus and health inequalities: supporting BAME communities

Throughout this coronavirus pandemic, we have been reminded again of the devastating impact societal inequalities have had on the health and wellbeing of Black, Asian and ethnically diverse (BAME) citizens. The recent Public Health England report highlighted the need for us to finally act and consider the unacceptable impact such inequalities have always had on our communities...

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A message of hope, support and solidarity

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Coronavirus, Our profession
Social workers in training

This year marked 50 years since the creation of local authority social services, a milestone we had hoped to celebrate with all social workers and those in training on World Social Work Day. We have written to the profession in these uncertain times to reaffirm our continuing support, guidance and – we hope – inspiration, during this pandemic and way beyond.

Beyond coronavirus - valuable long term lessons

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Autism, Care and support, Co-production, Innovation, Knowledge and skills, Learning disabilities
symbol of hands supporting a family

Jo Barnicoat works for a small charity, Oxfordshire Family Support Network (OXFSN), supporting families with learning disabilities. Like everyone else, she and her colleagues have had to develop a totally new way of working. However, this enforced change has actually enabled professionals and families to communicate much more efficiently and speedily.

Social work bohemians

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Education and training, Knowledge and skills
Meditation and mind expansion image

Over the last few months, we have seen social workers and social work students coming together to support one another.
Not only that, they are also coming up with ways to develop and shape new ideas in social work and broaden the resources they use to enhance their practice thinking.

In this context, the Student Social Work Hub has exploded onto our social media and into the rich discussion about social work and the future of the profession.

Frameworks for change

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Autism, Education and training, Knowledge and skills, Learning disabilities
Capabilities statement for social workers working with autistic adults

Understanding what is important to adults with learning disabilities and/or autism helps practitioners and organisations make meaningful contributions to their lives and those around them. BASW's Liz Howard explains how new capabilities statement resources provide social workers with the means to capture the voices and experiences of people and families to shape our learning, development and growth as a profession.

Learning Disability Week: our role in ending discrimination

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Autism, Education and training, Knowledge and skills, Learning disabilities

It's Learning Disability Week. BASW (the British Association of Social Workers) and SCIE (the Social Care Institute for Excellence) have launched new resources to support the capabilities of social workers in their work with autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities. These resources are freely available on the BASW website and will support individuals and organisations to implement the capabilities statements and CPD pathways.

Black Lives Matter in the UK too but where is the voice of social work?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Communities, Society, Viewpoint
Black Lives Matter peaceful protest in New York

Diana Katoto is a student at the University of Birmingham, studying a BA Social Work. She has a passion for social justice and prides herself on promoting human rights. The tragic death of George Floyd in the United States has prompted her to write this heartfelt and challenging blog. Diana tasks our social work profession - and by extension all other UK based institutions and networks - to be louder in our condemnation and take active steps to combat racism wherever we find it.

Pandemics, processes and personal issues

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Addiction services, Coronavirus
Door opening

Most people in treatment for drug and alcohol use are being helped in community settings, staying at home and working with their treatment providers, who are supporting their ongoing care through the coronavirus pandemic. Karen Biggs is the Chief Executive of Phoenix Futures, a specialist substance misuse treatment charity.

Whilst the advice for most of the treatment sector has been to find ways to support people without face to face contact, in residential care homes this has been more difficult to achieve. Karen explains how her organisation has continued to help people despite the challenges of lockdown.

Black lives matter...

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Communities, Society
George Floyd mural

Over the past few days, those of us in the Office of the Chief Social Worker for Adults and the Office of the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families have been shocked and horrified by the death of George Floyd. The subsequent outpouring of anger, despair and emotion that has followed has focused our minds once again on the presence of racism and intolerance in our societies.

Lightbulbs, leadership and being true to yourself

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Communities, Our profession, Viewpoint
lightbulb drawn in chalk on blackboard

For a uniquely personal take on matters of race, discrimination, unconscious bias and the many other issues thrown into sharp relief by recent events in the US, we are proud to present this excellent blog from Nadia Khan.

Nadia is a registered social worker, AMHP and Interim Service Manager for Mental Health with Bradford Council - her words are honest, powerful and inspiring.

Adult social work is fifty years young

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Coronavirus, Our profession
Fredric Seebohm

50 years ago this week, the Local Authority Social Services Act received royal assent and with it the creation of a new approach to social services. The act was the culmination of over two years work by Fredric Seebohm and his committee and the publication of the pivotal Seebohm Report.

This report set out the recommendations and aspiration for the foundations of a modern, forward thinking, independent and responsive social services system. Joint Chief Social Worker Mark Harvey reflects on the distance travelled since then.

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