I was delighted to be invited to a Parliamentary reception at the House of Commons recently on social pedagogy. If you’re wondering what that is – read on! There were quite a few social workers there and I was inspired …
One of the reasons I chose social work as a profession is the way it constantly evolves to take on new challenges, skills and responsibilities. As much as we lead the way in person-centred care, we also react to the …
Social workers make a unique contribution to making the world a better place, but doing so requires a range of knowledge and skills. But what specific knowledge and skills are needed when working with the increasing number of adults with …
My latest guest blogger, Professor Sarah Galvani, leads UK research on substance use in social work education and practice. Her work includes a focus on alcohol and other drug use in association with a range of social and health care …
As the Chief Social Worker for Adults I have a deep interest in making sure the Government’s Autism Strategy is a practical and effective reality. We all know that getting the right support at the right time is crucial for …
When I ask social workers to describe the distinctive contribution they make to mental health services the answer is often that they work with a “social model” and ensure that human rights and citizen outcomes are prioritised. But what exactly …
What should we do to make sure we have enough social workers, doing the right things in the right places, so that people can really experience personalised and integrated outcomes to live the lives they want? The Department of Health …
New Sheffield based regulator for social work in England announced Even before I became Chief Social Worker for Adults, I was committed to driving forward improvements in – and the expansion of – social work practice. Then, as now, I’ve …
During the many conversations I have with colleagues in the care and support sector, the challenge of recruiting and retaining a quality social care workforce to serve growing, aging and diversifying populations is a frequent topic. It’s a challenge the …
The opportunity to develop new degree apprenticeship routes into social work is to be welcomed, so long as these additional pathways do not minimise the profession's academic and research base – a concern expressed by some commentators. Importantly, such a …