Media

Ahead of the government’s adoption action plan, due to be published next month, in a speech at the Isaac Newton Centre today, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Education, has reignited the adoption debate. Gove expressed concerns at low adoption rates, criticised the assessment process and said that local authorities must “speed up decisions [...]

This Morning does social work: ‘A good social worker should be prized above rubies’

10th February 2012

New statistics from Cafcass reporting record numbers of children being referred to social services have sparked widespread debate in the media, even drawing in ITV’s flagship daytime show, This Morning. Usually more comfortable with makeovers, TV actors and new recipes, the programme today offered a prominent slot to a discussion about how and why rising [...]

Rise in referrals necessary, but more money needed to cope

9th February 2012

Commenting on Cafcass’ announcement that the number of children referred into care in England has hit a record high, Sue Kent, BASW professional officer, said: “It is necessary that referrals are on the rise, as child protection is every member of society’s responsibility, but social workers are seeing resources being cut, not increased. “The government [...]

BASW says breaches of contact orders should be a criminal offence

3rd February 2012

BASW has responded to the government’s decision to reject the stance of the Family Justice Review and press ahead with legislation that would enshrine the rights of both parents to have access to their children by suggesting that ministers are “grandstanding” rather than dealing with the real issues. Responding to news that the government will [...]

BASW welcomes no notice Ofsted inspections

31st January 2012

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has welcomed Ofsted’s announcement that it will introduce no notice inspections for child protection services, coming into effect in May. Commenting as Ofsted publishes its new framework, Nushra Mansuri, BASW professional officer, said: “We wholeheartedly support unannounced inspections; there is less opportunity to mask poor practice and more [...]

Call for councils to open doors to the media to prove that social work is not all about tragedy

30th January 2012

Ahead of the first episode of ‘Protecting Our Children’ on BBC2 on Monday, BASW urged local authorities to follow Bristol City Council’s example in allowing cameras to follow their social workers as they strive to safeguard vulnerable young people. BASW wrote to Annie Hudson, Director of Children and Young People’s Services, commending her on her [...]

MPs told to ‘have confidence in social workers’ at launch of Social Work APPG

24th January 2012

Following lobbying from the British Association of Social Workers (BASW), an All Party Parliamentary Social Work Group has held its first meeting, a move aimed at moving social work higher up the political agenda. At a lunchtime meeting, members including MPs and Peers from all sides, received a message of thanks from former Labour MP Hilton [...]

BASW backs Action for Children child protection report

23rd January 2012

BASW has welcomed a report from Action for Children in which the charity highlights social workers’ powerlessness to intervene in suspected neglect cases. Ruth Cartwright, England manager for the British Association of Social Workers, commented: “We welcome this report by Action for Children and endorse its calls to government to increase children and families’ access to [...]