Media

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 [...]

Negotiators appointed for BASW and College of Social Work talks

19th January 2012

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and The College of Social Work (TCSW) have each agreed to appoint one independent person to work together as mediators and negotiators seeking to support the organisations to reach agreement about the future structure of representation for social work and social workers. Penny Thompson has been appointed by [...]

Social workers turning to payday loan providers to manage debts

11th January 2012

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is hearing from increasing numbers of social workers facing financial difficulty, with some turning to payday loans with extortionately high interest rates to cope. The number of social workers approaching the Social Workers Benevolent Trust, an independent charity originally established by BASW, and receiving some financial support from [...]

Report exposes “misleading” disability benefit consultation

9th January 2012

BASW has lent its support to a report claiming that the government “misled” MPs and peers over the levels of “hostility” to disability benefit reforms. The report, Responsible Reform – also known as the Spartacus report – was produced by disabled people and is based on consultation responses to the Government’s Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reforms. It was presented to Parliament [...]