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Department of Health and Social Care
Mark Harvey

Mark Harvey

Mark Harvey is the interim joint Chief Social worker for Adults at the Department of Health and Social Care. He shares the role with Fran Leddra, Principal Social Worker and Strategic Lead of Safeguarding and Adult Social Care in Thurrock Council.

Mark is also Operations Director for adult disability services in Hertfordshire County Council.

Revisiting safeguarding practice

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Guidance, Knowledge and skills, Our profession, Safeguarding

Continuous professional development in safeguarding practice is essential if we are to serve individuals, families, and communities well. The recently published Revisiting safeguarding practice will support local authority social workers to refresh their knowledge and understanding of their roles and responsibilities in responding to enquiries and concerns.

Chief Social Workers for Adults present their annual report for 2020/21

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Guidance, Our profession, Research
two hands reaching out of smartphones towards each other

The Chief Social Workers for Adults annual report 2021 is an opportunity to look back over the last year and reflect on the progress made on the priorities set out in last year’s plan and to celebrate collective achievements.

However, 2020 was a year like no other and one which proved enormously challenging to the social work profession. We saw first-hand the devastating effects of COVID-19 on the people and communities we support, including our colleagues, loved ones, friends and families...

Striving for access, equality and respect in our profession and beyond

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Communities, Our profession, Society
instructor-helping-new-employees-with-corporate-software

As Chief Social Workers for Adults, part of our national leadership is to role model anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice. We are therefore looking forward to working together to implement the social care Workforce Race and Equality Standard (WRES) in 18 local authorities from April 2021.

In this blog, Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, shares her reflections on the challenges in children’s social care and why it so important to make sure this work takes place and drives positive change.

Our message of thanks, faith and hope

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Coronavirus, Viewpoint
christmas decorations

As we approach a festive season that will be very different for all of us, we wanted to say thank you again for the support you have provided our communities during a very challenging year.

We continue to be moved by stories of dedication, kindness and empathy across the social care workforce and by your equally dedicated NHS colleagues. We know many of you will continue to provide care and support in your communities and go the extra mile to work over the holiday period. Likewise, others will take a much-needed rest with their loved ones before shortly returning to work.

A message from Lyn Romeo

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Coronavirus, Our profession, Viewpoint
Lyn Romeo enjoys a mountain view on a yoga retreat in Australia.

Fran Leddra and Mark Harvey were originally due to end their time as joint Chief Social Workers for Adults (CSWs) in October this year, yet you may have noticed they are still here.That's why they want to share with you an update from Lyn Romeo, the original Chief Social Worker for Adults currently on sabbatical, to explain why and let you know they will be continuing in their roles until March 2021.

Making the most of uncertainty

Posted by: and , Posted on: - Categories: Coronavirus, Education and training, Innovation, Knowledge and skills
two hands reaching out of smartphones towards each other

Meet Carmen Colomina, social worker and Practice Development Manager at the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). In this guest blog, Carmen reflects upon the pandemic's effect on her life and work, the wider profession's adaptability, including the technological adjustments many of us have had to make to keep delivering for those who need our help.

Coronavirus and health inequalities: supporting BAME communities

Posted by: , and , Posted on: - Categories: Care and support, Consultation and engagement, Coronavirus, Society
BAME people wearing covid-19 face masks

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...

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.

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.

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.

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