I was delighted recently when Dr Ruth Allen joined me and the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) for a workshop focusing on ‘strengths based social work with adults’. The former Director of Social Work at South West London and …
At the end of last year, I announced in my blog that the Department of Health would be funding six local authorities across England to pilot deployment of a ‘named social worker’ programme for people with learning disabilities, mental health …
Regular readers of my blog will know that I am committed to social work playing a more influential role in improving relational and systemic family approaches to working with people in mental distress, their families and carers. The peer supported …
Social work is all about human rights. If we fail to recognise our shared humanity, individual worth and right to equality, we fail - not just as social workers – but as members of society. On the eve of this …
One of the best aspects of my role is meeting and talking with social workers in their practice contexts, hearing about developments in improving practice and finding better ways to support them in their work. I recently spoke at Harrow’s social …
For those of us working in or receiving support from forensic mental health settings, the role social workers play in ensuring that whole person and family approaches are taken is vital. They use their knowledge and relational skills to enable …
Regular readers of my blog will know how keen I am to have a focus on relational strengths based social work practice at the heart of adult social care. The Care Act has provided us with the legislative architecture to …
My first ever job as a qualified social worker was in a large inner city teaching hospital. It was an excellent start to my career. It was fast paced, demanding and a great opportunity to develop skills and confidence working …
In December 2015, a new offence of controlling and coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship was brought into law under the Serious Crime Act (2015). The law recognises that a pattern of coercive control lies at the root …
Social work is a constantly evolving profession, with new challenges arising every day. As social workers we adapt to these changes, using our knowledge and practice wisdom to help families and individuals tackle the complexities and stresses of modern life. …