News Articles

DVD launch at NIASW World Social Work Day event puts service users centre stage

Service users across Europe want their social workers to be good listeners, empathetic and politically motivated, a DVD launched to mark World Social Work Day in Northern Ireland has suggested. The film, International Messages on Service User and Carer Involvement, featured comments from service users in Spain, Slovenia and Northern Ireland, revealing similar demands in each country. Launched at the Northern Ireland Association of Social Workers’ World Social Work Day event on 19 March, the film showed student practitioners in each country asking the same six questions of service users. Responding to a question about the most important qualities a social worker needs to have, a Spanish service user told the student: “Not to feel judged, not being judged. I would also need to be spoken to with words I can understand.”

20th March 2013

NIASW Report - April 2013

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

NIASW welcomes ministers strong social work support

NIASW has welcomed comments by social services minister Michael McGimpsey in which he emphasised the need to safeguard social work services from cuts and praised Northern Ireland’s social workers for their role in protecting the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in our society.

20th February 2013

Northern Ireland Social Work Awards - Apply Now

Northern Ireland Social Work Awards

6th February 2013

NIASW's Adult Services Survey

6th February 2013

Webinar: Social Work not Paperwork - Cutting Bureaucracy in Childcare Social Work

During discussions with members, NIASW found the issue of increasing bureaucracy in childcare was raised as a major ongoing challenge social workers face across all programmes of care. As a key step in supporting our members with this important issue we undertook a survey of childcare social workers to ascertain their views in a more structured way. The results of the survey were published under the title 'Social Work not Paperwork - Cutting Bureaucracy in Childcare Social Work'.

1st February 2013

NSPCC/BASW/CEOP Survey

A survey about social workers' experiences of child sexual abuse when there is an online element. A project being undertaken by NSPCC, CEOP and BASW.

1st February 2013

Protecting children in Northern Ireland means supporting social workers

NIASW supports Northern Ireland's first review into child deaths but says policymakers must take heed of issues raised highlighting social workers facing high caseloads and not being adequately supported.

1st 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

Minister Poots backs NIASW poll and invites Association to outline changes

NIASW held a very successful meeting with Minister for Health, Edwin Poots, on 14 January to discuss the Association's recent survey of Northern Ireland practitioners, ‘Social Work not Paperwork’. Commenting on the talks, NIASW Manager Carolyn Ewart said: "The minister supported our view that the findings of our poll indicate an unacceptable imbalance in the time spent on paperwork and actually visiting children and families, and that this must change.

17th January 2013

Northern Ireland minister to meet NIASW over bureaucracy survey

Northern Ireland’s health minister Edwin Poots has agreed to meet social workers in the country to discuss their concern that excessive paperwork is stopping them from seeing families. Mr Poots agreed to the meeting, to be held on 14 January, following the launch of a survey by the Northern Ireland Association of Social Work (NIASW), part of BASW, highlighting concerns within the profession.

20th December 2012

NIASW and BASW speaking out stronger than ever on behalf of social work

All the staff at NIASW would like to wish all members a Merry Christmas and a happy new year. The last year has been a hugely challenging one for the profession once again, and we hope for better things for all social workers and the people who rely on your services in 2013. Despite the many difficulties, we have seen amazing examples of the work you do which continue to make a difference.

20th December 2012

Pocket guides on problematic substance use launched by BASW

BASW’s Special Interest Group (SIG) on Alcohol and Other Drugs has produced five pocket guides to put basic information, hints, tips and reminders literally into the hands of frontline practitioners.

13th December 2012

Survey finds social workers in Northern Ireland stymied by bureaucracy overload

Northern Ireland social workers doing 20-60 extra hours a month as paperwork takes its toll

29th November 2012

First UK guidelines for journalists reporting on child abuse launched

First UK guidance for journalists reporting on child abuse and neglect cases is launched on day Leveson Inquiry into the press is published.

29th November 2012

Landmark child abuse reporting guide helps close divide between press and social work

New guidance for child abuse reporting launched in Northern Ireland a potential blueprint for more constructive relationship between media and care professionals.

29th November 2012

Social Work Not Paperwork: Media coverage

29th November 2012

HCPC deadline extended as thousands fail to register

HCPC has extended the deadline for social workers in England to register after revealing 21,000 have yet to do so.

27th November 2012

BASW: IDS is punishing children for being born

BASW has hit out at Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith for proposed plans to cap child benefit at two children per family.

26th October 2012