News Articles

Social work inquiry: Service users suffering as traditional social work replaced by “managing crisis”

The need for a relationship-based approach to social work practice is greater than ever but public sector cuts are reducing the role of social workers to little more than one of “managing crisis”. That was the message to MPs from social workers working in mental health at the final All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work inquiry into the state of the profession.

5th March 2013

APPG inquiry: Fears over welfare of ‘lost’ patients as cuts bite on social work in hospitals

Brain injury patients are at risk of ending up on the streets or entering the criminal justice system once they leave hospital because over-stretched social care departments are struggling to support them, a Senior Social Worker warned. The concern was one of a range raised by hospital-based social workers giving evidence to MPs on adult social care at the third session of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work’s inquiry into the state of the profession. Their testimonials underline findings from BASW’s State of Social Work survey last year highlighting the severe pressures facing the profession.

5th March 2013

Image problem is still an issue, MPs hear

Social workers still suffer from an image problem, MPs were told by a social worker at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work’s inquiry into the state of the profession. The social worker, who preferred not to divulge her identity, said the profession needed to work hard to sell itself. She said the term ‘social worker’ has some very negative connotations with service users and carers despite, in many situations, providing a good service.

5th March 2013

BASW England statement on Frontline programme

BASW welcomes the opportunity that the Frontline initiative provides to explore the potential for diversity in the delivery of social work education. BASW has some concerns about the current shape of the proposed curriculum. These centre around two areas; first the programme is condensed in scope and time and this results in risks for participants in completing the course as competent practitioners with sufficient knowledge to provide a holistic social work service and sufficient time to prevent undue stress. Such risks would, in the absence of suitable controls, be likely to be passed on to the service delivery setting with consequences for the welfare of people who should benefit from social work interventions.

5th March 2013

Come to the BASW Cymru Annual Meeting – 20 March in Cardiff

28th February 2013

BASW to discuss Winterbourne View, the Francis report and much more at Compass on 4 March

Winterbourne View, the Francis Report, the Children and Families Bill, plus career guidance, will all be explored in detail by BASW spokespeople at a major exhibition on 4 March. Offering a range of seminars on topical social work issues, the Compass Jobs Fair in Birmingham will feature a seminar on the 'Implications for Social Workers of Winterbourne View and the Francis Report on Stafford Hospitals', as well as 'Making Sense of the Children and Families Bill', followed by a Q&A on careers guidance.

28th February 2013

BASW backs petition opposing NHS privatisation move

BASW is backing an urgent campaign to prevent the Westminster government from using a regulation in the new Health and Social Care Bill that will force GPs to privatise more and more services.

27th February 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

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

BLOG: Relief that decision reached on Dilnot must not gloss over flaws

BASW professional officer Joe Godden assesses the latest incarnation of the Dilnot report.

13th 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

BASW's concern at College admission on taxpayer funding and data protection laws

BASW has expressed serious concern at comments by the new and unelected Chair of The College of Social Work that she expects four more years of government funding and is seeking ways around data protection legislation so it can automatically opt-in all local authority social workers whose employers have signed up to Corporate Membership. In an interview with The Guardian, the TCSW Chair, Jo Cleary, a local authority director, also made it clear that she does not feel social workers can be trusted to lead the College, which is why most of its board and professional assembly have been appointed rather than elected.

13th February 2013

BASW Cymru report - March 2013

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

BASW: Professionals must get over their unease about sexualised behaviour in children

As a study from HM inspectorate of Probation of 24 male sex offenders, (10 of whom were minors) indicates that early signs of future sexual offending were missed in the majority of cases, BASW highlights a culture of ‘unease’ amongst professionals about the sexualised behaviour of some young children, that must be addressed by adequate provision of training and services.

7th February 2013

Tributes to Keith Drury as he prepares to step down as BASW Cymru Chair

Current BASW Cymru Chair Keith Drury will be stepping down at the Association’s Annual Meeting next month after four years in the post.

6th 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

Book now for World Social Work Day at Murrayfield – Social Services Expo and Conference

Places at the Social Services Expo and Conference on 19th March at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh are going fast, so book your free entry now. Find out more about this unique event here and make sure you reserve your place as tickets are limited.

6th February 2013