Skip to main content

https://socialworkwithadults.blog.gov.uk/2020/06/18/learning-disability-week-our-role-in-ending-discrimination/

Learning Disability Week: our role in ending discrimination

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

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.


Discrimination is nothing new

Over the past decade we have witnessed some of the most horrific examples of abuse, torture and oppression of autistic adults and people with learning disabilities

We know that life expectancy is significantly reduced due to health inequalities, failure to respect human rights with equity, and diagnostic overshadowing. We witness over-control and the removal of human rights under cover of professional decision making.

These issues have been present for many years. We still have a long way to go to make sure learning disabled and autistic adults have equality, the right to self-determination and are able to enjoy the ups and downs of life like the rest of us.

As social workers, we have a duty to acknowledge our role in this persistent discrimination. More importantly, we have to facilitate positive change and be part of the solution, alongside those with lived experience.

The Covid-19 pandemic’s ongoing impact on society has intensified new and existing challenges for autistic adults and people with learning disabilities and those who support them – including carers, loved ones and social workers.

Changes to routines, reduced access to services, and distancing from loved ones have all had a real impact on these communities and will continue to do so as lockdown measures are eased and adapted.

Our thoughts and condolences are with those who have lost loved ones and for the loss of fellow citizens, neighbours and friends.

Social workers in training
All social workers, including those in training, are feeling the need to protect and support adults with learning disabilities and autism even more acutely.

Injustice intensified

I know that social workers feel the injustices people have experienced and the pandemic makes them and those they are tasked to help feel these issues more intensely. That said, it is important to highlight the good practice and locally co-produced initiatives social workers are using to support people through these traumatic times.

Across our amazing social work profession, we must continue to adapt, develop and strengthen our practice to uphold human rights, maintain relationship based practice and support autistic adults and people with learning disabilities to live their lives to the full.

This week has seen a valuable step in that direction.

I am delighted that the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), along with our partners, the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), have published a set of resources for autistic adults and people with learning disabilities, social workers, social work employers and educators.

Last year, we commissioned BASW to develop capabilities statements and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) pathways to provide a clear framework for social workers, their employers and educators.

The resources have been co-produced in partnership with people with lived experience, social workers, employers and educators. Amongst these resources are tools to support and challenge social workers and social work organisations. They will help to check the capabilities of social workers from the point of view of people who use their services.

Adult with learning disability with a thumbs up sign
These new resources include top tips for social workers sourced directly from adults with learning disabilities, families and carers.

Supporting new ways of working

These new resources are freely available on the BASW website and will support individuals and organisations to implement the capabilities statements and CPD pathways.

As digital resources, they fit well in our new virtual working patterns and can support online or blended learning. They have been designed to support both individual and peer reflection and learning to provide evidence of continuous professional development.

The resources include a self-assessment tool for social work employers to evaluate current practice and identify areas for improvement, including how effectively they implement human rights and strengths-based approaches.

Whilst post-qualifying training in this area is variable, I would encourage educators to refer to the curriculum outlines produced amongst these resources in order to develop or improve programmes.

I encourage all social workers to use these resources to enhance their knowledge and skills in working with autistic adults and adults with learning disabilities.

They will help you put your capabilities into practice, embed them in your organisations, and deliver even greater support to those we seek to help.

Sharing and comments

Share this page

3 comments

  1. Comment by Diane Barrow posted on

    I am a support worker, working with people with learning disabilities including autism. I wish that we had this training too.

    Reply
  2. Comment by ThomasLoame posted on

    The factor of challenge always associated with a case study. However, they are quite interesting to work on and deliver. It is essential that one have the in-depth knowledge factor relating to the subject which they are dealing with complete the paper. Apart from having in-depth knowledge, relevant and exceptional writing skills are essential to complete the same paper. Consequently, one has to spend a lot of time in researching, formatting and writing the paper, until asking for a case study help. An enormous amount of companies are providing case study writing help. However, not all are providing exceptional writing services.
    <a href=http://professionalservices.casestudymonster.com>Visit us for queries</a>

    Reply
  3. Comment by Lynne Bowers posted on

    Great blog Mark
    Thank you!

    Reply

Leave a comment

We only ask for your email address so we know you're a real person

By submitting a comment you understand it may be published on this public website. Please read our privacy notice to see how the GOV.UK blogging platform handles your information.