News Articles
Search and read social work related news articles across a range of topics
Resource implications cannot be ignored after MPs express safeguarding fears for older children
BASW welcomed a report by MPs on the House of Commons Education Select Committee, highlighting failings in the care system for older children, but warned the situation would get worse unless the government recognises the urgency of the dangers facing the child protection system.
7th November 2012
Rise in children coming into care amid cutbacks puts increased pressure on social workers, Lords told
Lords inquiry warned social workers are straining under increased workload as more children come into care in a climate of service cuts.
7th November 2012
Corporate parenting should be a job for life
BASW's acting chief executive Bridget Robb argues spending more on extended support for care leavers is not only the right thing to do morally, it also makes economic sense.
2nd November 2012
BASW critical of government plan for two chief social workers instead of one
Community Care's coverage of BASW's criticism of a government decision to scrap a plan to appoint one Chief Social Work Officer, and instead to divide the role between the Department of Health and the Department of Education
2nd November 2012
More support, not bigger cash handout is answer to care leavers
Calls by the Children's Minister to provide greater support to young people leaving care are welcomed by BASW, while raising concern over proposals to increase a one-off payment to care leavers.
30th October 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
Winterbourne View highlights dangers of an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ culture
The Winterbourne View scandal highlights the importance of funding locally based support for people with challenging behaviour and learning disabilities rather than sending them to far off institutions, BASW warned.
26th October 2012
Power of entry proposals supported by BASW Cymru
BASW Cymru welcomes proposals to give social workers greater power to enter homes to safeguard adults they believe are suffering abuse or neglect.
24th October 2012
BASW says leadership and resources are key to transforming Birmingham children's services
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) says sustained leadership improvements are crucial if Birmingham City Council is to successfully turn around its child protection services, following the latest critical Ofsted report, but that this must be supported by a central government acceptance that local authorities cannot cope with any more funding cuts.
19th October 2012
Nigerian baby ruling sparks trafficking fears
Concern has been raised over a High Court decision granting custody of a Nigerian child to non-biological parents as a government report into human trafficking is published.
19th October 2012
BASW joins rally against austerity
BASW is set to show its support for the TUC's Future that Works march.
18th October 2012
Eastenders responds to Professional Social Work Magazine (PSW)
In light of the controversy surrounding the EastEnders’ storyline, PSW put some questions to the show’s executive producer, Lorraine Newman. Here are her answers.
16th October 2012
BASW: Care staff need better regulation that remembers personalisation
As an FOI request from BBC Inside Out programme to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) reveals that 217 care home providers in England have been employing staff who do not have the proper qualifications, BASW is calling for a better system of regulation that also pays attention to the personalisation agenda.
15th October 2012
BASW responds to member confusion about issues surrounding College membership
BASW responds to concerns raised by members about joining The College of Social Work (TCSW). BASW makes it clear to social workers they do not need to join TCSW to access the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) and that they should not listen to any employer wrongly stating they are obliged to join. After members approached BASW with suggestions to the contrary, the Association is also cautioning that TCSW does not offer workplace representation.
15th October 2012
Social work funding constraints toughest for a whole generation
Senior BASW member and social worker in Wales speaks out about how funding for social work is worse today than it has been at any time in the last three decades.
15th October 2012
East Glasgow social worker is the inaugural winner of mental health officer award
Renfrewshire social worker Liz Snodgrass has become the first winner of the Scottish Association of Social Work's Wilma Macdonald Mental Health Officer (MHO) of the Year Award for her work supporting “highly distressed and often risky people” in the community.
15th October 2012
BASW speaks up for social work over EastEnders depiction of poor practice
BASW has led the social work profession's public response to an EastEnders storyline featuring a social worker the Association says is portrayed acting illegally and in a way that could put off people in need from seeking support. The soap showed distressed care leaver Lola Pearce having her baby forcefully removed by social worker Trish Barnes in scenes that sparked 556 complaints from viewers to the BBC.
12th October 2012
Swansea social worker recognised for tackling online sex abuse
A Swansea social worker’s efforts to prevent young people with learning difficulties falling prey to online sexual predators was praised at BASW Cymru’s Social Work Awards. Claire Page, a member of Swansea Council’s child disability team, was among those nominated for an award at the event for her work in recognsing and supporting vulnerable young victims of internet-based sexual harassment.
11th October 2012
Social workers honoured in BASW Cymru Awards
The unsung heroes of the “best profession in the world” were celebrated at BASW Cymru’s annual Social Work Award ceremony, held at the Welsh National Assembly.
4th October 2012
IPPR ‘Frontline’ report: we first need to retain existing social workers
As the IPPR today publishes a new report proposing to apply the Teach First model to children’s social work, BASW cautioned of the need to support and retain existing staff and current graduates, many of whom are struggling to secure their first posts.
4th October 2012
