BASW Council
Council is the governing body of BASW and Council members are personally liable for the sound management of the Association as Directors.
Current members of Council are:
Fran Fuller (Chair)
Lesley McDowell (Vice Chair & Chair Policy, Ethics & Human Rights Committee )
Ronnie Barnes (Chair Finance & Human Resources Committee)
Joan Franklin (England Committee representative)
Tricia Hays (England Committee representative)
Gerry Madden (Northern Ireland Committee representative)
Judith Simpson (Northern Ireland Committee representative)
Graeme Rizza (Scotland Committee representative)
Trisha Hall (Scotland Committee representative)
Keith Drury (Wales Committee representative)
Nick Lovell (Wales Committee representative)
Additional Members:
Terry Bamford
Dave Harrop
Karen Parkinson
Liz Timms
Julia Wassell
No related publications or resources are currently available.
World Social Work Day: Social workers have a vital role to play in reducing inequality
The vital role that social workers play in reducing inequality was the clear message sounded at BASW’s event to mark World Social Work Day in Westminster.
20th March 2013
BASW – World Social Work day challenges us to find new ways of working together
Speaking at a celebration event in Westminster later today, BASW Interim Chief Executive Bridget Robb will tell an audience of MPs and social work professionals that money is not the answer to all of the current problems faced by local authority services and make a plea for both sides to work together.
18th March 2013
BASW: Treat children in care as individuals, not criminals
As a new report from MPs claims the youth justice system is currently failing children in care and care leavers, BASW has reiterated the need to treat looked after children as individuals. The report by the Commons' Justice Committee said vulnerable children were being drawn into the criminal justice system in a way that those from family homes were not. Committee chairman, Lib Dem MP Sir Alan Beith, commented that the committee had even heard one example where police had been called to a children's home to investigate a broken cup.
14th March 2013
BASW: Social workers need knowledge of the law and community to tackle human slavery
BASW has endorsed a major report that lifts the lid on the lack of multi-agency understanding about how to tackle human slavery and called on social workers to “play their part” to stop this abuse.
12th March 2013
International Women’s Day – Deeds not words needed on domestic violence say BASW
BASW has responded to comments made by home secretary Theresa May that the Government “can only do so much” and that people must speak out against violence against women and girls, with a reminder that cuts to services are leaving many unprotected.
8th March 2013
BLOG: DPP to be congratulated for recognition that justice system is failing sexual abuse victims
Following the failings identified by the Jimmy Savile case and the exploitation of young girls by gangs, the director of public prosecutions Keir Starmer QC has called for a new approach to tackle child sexual exploitation prosecutions, so that claims are taken seriously and cases are not dropped at an early stage. Mr Starmer has been quoted as saying police and Crown lawyers need to change the way they deal with cases of alleged sex abuse to avoid “another Savile moment.” BASW professional officer Sue Kent, who will be attending a roundtable meeting with the DPP to discuss proposed reforms, explains.
7th March 2013
BASW: Ministers must understand that the situation for many social workers is deteriorating not improving
BASW has responded to education secretary Michael Gove’s assertion that the current social work reform agenda will enable social workers to spend the time they need with at risk children by calling for more far reaching reforms of practice, training and funding.
6th March 2013
Butler-Sloss praised for hearing BASW’s concerns on adoption reform
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has issued strong support for today's comments by Baroness Butler-Sloss, Chair of the House of Lords Select Committee on Adoption Legislation, who has taken on board the message from social work that the Government's focus on driving up the number of adoptions should not ignore the need for better post-adoption support, more accurate data on adoption breakdown and the reality that adoption is not suitable for all children.
6th March 2013
BASW – We need a sensible debate on welfare reform, not underhand attacks on benefit claimants
In a Huffington Post blog, BASW’s press officer assesses how the media is being used to promote the government’s proposals on welfare reform by demonising benefit claimants such as mum of 11 Heather Frost. Ms Frost hit the headlines after claims that she has demanded a £400,000 ‘eco mansion’ be built by Tewkesbury council.
21st February 2013
Sue Kent - Tracing birth families on Facebook can have a devastating impact
Writing for the Guardian Social Care Network, BASW professional officer Sue Kent examines how Facebook is increasingly being used for unplanned communication between adoptive and birth families.
13th February 2013
BLOG: Children must not pay price of targets to reduce time on care proceedings
BASW professional officer Sue Kent examines the issues raised by a new report from the Child Protection All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), that highlights a family courts system under extreme pressure.
13th February 2013
BASW: Stable, specialised and skilled workforce needed to prevent children going missing from care
As the Chief Inspector of Ofsted publishes a new report that highlights the lack of reliable data on the number of children who go missing from care and the need for urgent action to establish a single register to track them, BASW endorses the report and calls for the creation of a stable, specialised and skilled workforce to support children in care.
8th February 2013
Bridget Robb - Social workers at Mid Staffs must ask why they didn't blow the whistle
Writing for the Guardian Social Care Network, BASW's acting chief executive Bridget Robb explains why the Mid Staffs NHS scandal is also a disgrace shared by the social work profession.
6th February 2013
BASW STATEMENT: Update on Chief Executive position
BASW Council has completed the independent investigation into allegations made about the conduct of suspended Chief Executive Hilton Dawson. Following a subsequent period of mediation, recommended by the independent investigating officer and supported by both parties, it has been agreed that Mr Dawson will not be returning to his position.
18th January 2013
BLOG – deregistration threat to social work role should not be ignored
Following reports that 8,425 from an estimated 88,000 social workers have not registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in England, BASW professional officer Joe Godden is calling for action to prevent an erosion of social work identity.
10th January 2013
College walks out on talks with BASW
The British Association of Social Workers is extremely disappointed to report that The College of Social Work (TCSW) has decided that it is not possible to create a unified organisation for social workers in the UK.
28th September 2012
Rochdale report: BASW supports call for better training on sexual exploitation issues
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) strongly welcomes today’s report into why professionals in the Rochdale area failed to stop the sexual abuse of young girls, between 2007 and 2011. BASW believes the report, commissioned by Rochdale Borough Safeguarding Children Board (RBSCB), offers a rare opportunity to learn vital lessons about how social workers, the police, healthcare professionals and others can work far more effectively to minimise the chances of such appalling outcomes for such vulnerable young people
27th September 2012
BASW: Lack of advocacy for asylum seeking children “diabolical”
As the Children’s Society publishes a critical report of the UK Border Agency’s practices when dealing with asylum seeking children, BASW has condemned the lack of legal advice, advocacy and specific supportive services for asylum seeking children as “diabolical”.
22nd September 2012
Trafficked children: “Staff lack skills, not compassion”
As the Council of Europe’s GRETA (Group of Experts on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings) today releases a report on trafficked children, BASW is supporting GRETA’s call for better services and more specialist trained staff.
12th September 2012
BASW: social workers must confront taboos around suicide and depression
BASW is urging social workers to use today’s World Suicide Prevention Day to begin confronting taboos about suicide and depression, as a preventative film is launched with part funding from the Association.
10th September 2012
BASW launches guide for social workers on alcohol use in older people
Ahead of Joan Bakewell’s BBC Panorama investigation of older people’s drinking habits, BASW has launched a guide aimed at spotting the signs of alcohol abuse, and expressed concern that the excesses of this group can be overlooked by hospitals.
7th September 2012
Social workers exposed online – the dangers we face
Last week saw public attention drawn to the launch of a new “name and shame” website aimed at “exposing the truth” about social workers and their penchant for unjustly removing children from their parents.
3rd September 2012
BASW condemns ‘name and shame’ website and urges employers to act
BASW has expressed serious concern after the emergence of a new website aimed at ‘naming and shaming’ social workers who are involved in child protection work – particularly cases involving the removal of children deemed to be at risk.
29th August 2012
Never knowingly undersold: social workers, not accountants, should have say on assessments
BASW has countered a report by public spending watchdog The Audit Commission, which suggests the adult social care funding gap could be plugged by using unqualified staff to complete assessments, with a reminder that cheaper doesn’t always mean better.
23rd August 2012
Cuts to Working Together guidance will lead to less protection for disabled children
BASW has warned that proposed changes to child protection guidance may exacerbate the risk of abuse faced by disabled children, as Ofsted publish a new study of 173 cases in 12 local authorities, finding that too many disabled children had child protection needs which went unidentified.
22nd August 2012
Blog: It’s got to be Dilnot
BASW England manager Ruth Cartwright responds to today’s press reports of a government U-turn on social care funding for the elderly.
16th August 2012
BASW: Witchcraft abuse action plan positive, but must be backed by more training for social workers
BASW has welcomed moves to empower social workers and other professionals to confront cases of “witchcraft abuse”, following the publication of the government’s national action plan to tackle child abuse linked to faith or belief.
15th August 2012
BASW Cymru submits response to Social Services (Wales) Bill
BASW Cymru has submitted its full response to the Social Services (Wales) Bill, which is aimed at providing legislative backing for the changes outlined in the Welsh Government’s white paper, ‘Sustainable Social Services for Wales: A Framework for Action’.
1st June 2012
Blog: Sexual exploitation of children
BASW member Janet Foulds has written a Guardian blog "Child grooming – what social workers should know".
21st May 2012
Blog: Why the Draft Care and Support Bill was more disappointment than relief
My initial reaction to news that the Draft Care and Support Bill had made it into the Queen’s Speech was one of relief followed by disappointment that there was no mention of attempting to resolve the thorny issue of funding.
10th May 2012
Social work exodus fears over court fee cuts
Independent social workers are continuing to voice serious concerns about a UK government plan to slash the fees payable to independent social workers acting as expert witnesses in family courts. Social workers say the Ministry of Justice and Legal Services Commission proposals could lead to an exodus of specialists away from working with children and families in court hearings.
1st March 2010
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