News Articles
Search and read social work related news articles across a range of topics
BLOG: In Support of Nurses
BASW England Manager Ruth Cartwright on why the social work profession should support nurses.
10th December 2012
MP inquiry hears how adoption targets will lead to rushed assessments and increased risks to children
The imposition of six month targets for placing children in care for adoption will lead to rushed and inadequate assessments, potentially making the process too fast for would-be adopters and open to abuse by predatory paedophiles. This was the message to MPs at the second evidence gathering session of an inquiry by the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Social Work into the state of the profession.
9th December 2012
Deskilling" youth justice social workers a threat to reducing reoffending, MPs told
Recent successes in reducing crime and reoffending rates across England and Wales could be jeopardised by cuts to the youth justice service and by the marginalisation of the social work role, MPs were told. The second evidence gathering session of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Work heard from a senior social worker in a youth offending team, Iain Brown, who said there was a serious risk of “deskilling” social workers who had made a big impact on crime rates among young people.
7th December 2012
Autumn statement: Bridget Robb - Don’t ask social workers to save lives with no resources
As Chancellor George Osborne unveils his autumn statement, BASW acting chief executive Bridget Robb considers the implications for social workers in a blog for Community Care.
5th December 2012
Peterborough practitioner picks up Social Worker of the Year Award for England
A children's social worker from Peterborough who qualified just three years ago won the top honour at the Social Worker of the Year Awards for England, co-sponsored by BASW. Estelle Thain, who works in the Family Support Service at Peterborough City Council, landed the overall award and the Children’s Social Worker category prize at a ceremony in the Palace of Westminster on 30 November. Ms Thain was one of 13 award winners at the event, marking the achievements of social workers throughout England.
1st December 2012
MPs hear how social workers struggle with backlogs akin to "M25 at rush hour"
The second stage of an inquiry by MPs into the state of social work heard a wave of additional evidence from frontline social workers about why child protection practice is in a parlous condition and how new government adoption targets could deepen the crisis. Experienced practising social workers told the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Social Work how they and their colleagues regularly work late to deal with backlogs akin to “the M25 at rush hour” and reported a serious “disconnect” between centrally driven initiatives and the reality of life for professionals who just don’t have the time to find out what it all means.
30th November 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
BASW statement on Rotherham/UKIP foster story
BASW statement on Rotherham council's removal of three children from a foster couple.
27th 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: Protect children from ‘currency of sex’
Responding to the publication of the findings of a nationwide Inquiry by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner, BASW has called on society to stop tolerating the promotion of sexualised images of children for commercial profit.
20th November 2012
BASW highlights damaging 'draconian' culture as Doncaster receives critical report
Concerns such as those highlighted today over failing children’s services at Doncaster will remain unless bureaucracy is reduced and cuts reversed to allow social workers to do their job, warned BASW’s chief executive Bridget Robb.
16th November 2012
Gove right not to blame individuals or care system but removing more children from home is no panacea
Commenting on a speech on child protection given by Education Secretary Michael Gove MP at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) that advocated an expansion in the care system, with more children taken into care more quickly, BASW has called for careful assessment of the long-term needs of children, backed by better resources to do this vital work.
16th November 2012
BLOG: Frontline scheme is no laughing matter
Andrew Ellery, Social Worker and BASW member, assesses the Frontline scheme.
16th November 2012
BLOG: Lessons from Savile in resisting organised sexual exploitation
Blog by Ruth Stark, manager of the Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW), on what have we learnt about organised sexual abuse, repeat offenders and the long term effects of the offending on the victims? She considers recent headlines about organised sexual exploitation in Rochdale and the high-profile allegations against Jimmy Savile to pursue the subject in some detail.
15th November 2012
HCPC urges social workers to set up direct debits by 19 November
The latest details on the Health and Care Professions Council's (HCPC) campaign to ensure social workers in England renew their registration and don't lose their right to practise as a social worker.
12th November 2012
BASW: Profiteering private firms won’t save under-funded LA social services
BASW has hit out at Sandwell Council’s decision to award a £1.5m 30-month contract to management consultancy firm iMPOWER to run its children’s services.
9th November 2012
MPs listen to concerns from social work frontline
MPs acknowledge "crisis" in social work after professional testimonials underline concerns raised in BASW's State of Social Work survey.
7th November 2012
