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 …
Thought provoking strengths based workshop inspires my new report So much of what we do in our profession is about enabling people to have the best possible lives. We are there to help them build on their strengths and focus …
Working with people living with dementia and those who care for them is an aspect of social work practice that will only grow in importance for our profession. As the number of people living with the condition continues to rise …
Adult Principal Social Workers have recently been celebrating and promoting the role of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs). I was once an approved social worker and I know what a vital difference this role makes to protecting people's human rights. …
To say that my role as an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) gives me job satisfaction would be an understatement. I am reminded every day to value people for who they are, helping them take back control and empower others …
As someone of Italian heritage, supporting and caring for immediate and wider family members has always been a part of my life and, no doubt because it is Carers Week, it’s been at the forefront of my mind more than …
‘Assessment’ – it can seem such a loaded term. When it comes to issues of health and wellbeing, often the process feels like something that is done to us, not with us. As social workers, we actively avoid such polarised …
I was very pleased to be able to support the first national Come Back to Social Work programme which was led by the Local Government Association and funded by the Department of Health and the Department for Education. I attended their …
In response to Dr Ruth Allen's recent guest blog on the merits of strengths based practice, Colin Slasberg, an independent consultant in social care, says she is absolutely right to consider how we might sweep away old thinking, practices and bureaucracies …