AskBASW – UK Staff

	Bridget Robb RSW Acting Chief Executive Bridget is a former frontline social worker for two local authorities. Her interest in social work education led her to become a practice teacher and training manager, going on to lecture at Coventry University and becoming head of the Social Work Department at Oxford Brookes University. Bridget has been an external examiner and assessor with programmes and committees linked to the Northern Ireland Post Qualifying Board for many years. A BASW member throughout her professional career, Bridget has represented the organisation on committees and boards concerning social work education and training issues throughout the UK, including the Social Work Taskforce in England. She is currently a board member of Skills for Care, where she chairs the Workforce Development Committee, and is also a member of the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC), where she represents the Children’s Services Professional Network.
	David Allan RSW Acting General Secretary Social Workers Union (SWU)
	Marcia Lawrence-Russell RSW Assistant General Secretary Social Workers Union (SWU) After qualifying as a social worker, Marcia joined the then West Midlands Probation Service as a probation officer. A qualified practice teacher, practice teacher assessor and PQ mentor, she went on to join Sandwell Borough Council as a post-qualifying and practice teaching co-ordinator, before beginning her career with BASW as an advice and representation officer. After a number of years, Marcia became head of BASW’s Advice and Representation Service and is now also the Assistant General Secretary of the Social Workers Union (SWU). Marcia’s areas of expertise include anti-racist/anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities, the implementation of social work theory into practice and team building.
	Fran McDonnell RSW BASW Policy Officer (Ethics and Human Rights) Fran worked as a social worker in children and families, adoption and hospital social work in West London boroughs before becoming team manager of a large children and families directorate. She then worked as a development officer, trainer and practice teaching co-ordinator before moving to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) in 1995 as a social work education advisor. Fran then moved to TOPSS England (now Skills for Care), where she was part of team that developed the first national training strategy for social care and social work. A former consultant in workforce development, Fran has undertaken significant national projects and has published a range of research and evaluation projects for organisations including Department of Health and Cafcass. She has developed BASW policies on supervision, CPD and a revised Code of Ethics.

AskBASW

Examples of the sort of queries you might put to the A&R Service

Conduct concerns
Grievance cases
Disciplinary matters
Stress or bullying
Suspension or dismissal from work
Whistleblowing

Examples of the sort of queries you might put to AskBASW

Ethical dilemmas in your work?
Care council registration problems
Training questions
CPD issues
Supervision standards
Stidents concerns about practice placements
Work permits or international qualifications