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October ~ December 2016 issue In the spotlight
12
We hear from Doncaster Children’s Services Trust about the innovative programmes they are running.
The spotlight on your profession
Crossing the bridge
20
NEW S
Hear from YoungMinds on the transition from CAMHS to AMHS.
Working down under
26
Adult Social Worker, Jackie Brown, recalls her experiences working in rural Australia.
In this issue
Contents October ~ December 2016 issue.
04 08 12 18 22 26
News bites Read about Anne Longfield’s quest to secure apprenticeships for care leavers, which MPs are responsible for social care following the appointment of Theresa May, and more!
From the frontline We hear directly from four councils about their new projects and achievements, including how Bucks County Council’s app, MOMO, is improving communication with service users.
In the spotlight Paul Moffat, Chief Executive at Doncaster Children’s Services Trust, talks about what they are doing to meet the Trust’s ambitions of being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
Radicalisation Hear from Bal Howard, Honour Based Violence Trainer about radicalisation, the implications it has on social care and the signs to look out for.
Celebrating social work “This is what it’s all about.” Beverley Williams MBE tells us about what motivated her to set up the Social Worker of the Year Awards and how it’s affected the profession since.
Working down under We speak to Jackie Brown, Independent BIA and Form F Assessor, about her experience of practicing in rural Australia.
06 10 16 20 24
Giveaways Get your hands on award-winning resource, Talking Mats, and some of the latest social work textbooks to assist you in your practice.
Work life Helen Pye, Senior Mental Health Practitioner, discusses what has motivated her to bring health and social care closer together.
Starting out Adult Social Worker and iamsocialwork founder, Zoë Betts, shares her top tips for those entering the profession.
Crossing the bridge You’re standing before the rope bridge, and you’re told you have to cross it alone… But you’re scared. We talk to YoungMinds about the transition between CAMHS to AMHS.
Are you asking the right questions? Find out how an Achieving Best Evidence course has influenced the practice of Duty Team Manager, Lauren Blighton and her team.
Visit us sanctuarysocialcare.com Follow us twitter.com/sanctuarySW Like us facebook.com/sanctuarypersonnelltd _ See us instagram.com/sanctuary_personnel
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 02
Sanctuary
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s the Children and Social Work Bill continues making its way through Parliament, social work teams across the country are working on an outcomes-based approach that promotes co-production, whilst having to deal with shrinking resources. I have to say, the emerging picture is a promising one, with a much sharper focus on collaboration; sometimes this is imposed and other times voluntarily entered into. Either way, the outcomes are, more often than not, hugely transformative. This issue celebrates just this as we explore the work being undertaken to transform Doncaster Children’s Services Trust (pg.12-13), Rotherham’s multi-agency approach to child sexual exploitation (pg.8), and the importance of working with other agencies to address radicalisation (pg.18). Of course, the ability to bring services and people closer together is not just seen in large scale projects, but in the work of some truly inspirational practitioners. Social Worker of
the Year Awards founder, Beverley Williams (pg.22), and award-winning Senior Mental Health Practitioner, Helen Pye (pg.10), have both worked tirelessly to put social work on the map with other agencies. Highlighting the work of Beverley in forming the Social Worker of the Year Awards and practitioners like Helen; who was recognised for her work with South West Yorkshire’s NHS trust last year is vital in continuing to improve the public’s understanding of the outstanding work done each day by social workers across the country. You should all be very proud of the difference you make to the lives of vulnerable people each day, often with little recognition. On 3 October 2016, we are able to pause for a moment to celebrate excellent social work, when the shortlist for this year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards is announced. I am delighted that Sanctuary Social Care is able to continue sponsoring the awards and helping to highlight a selection of this truly inspirational work.
James Rook Managing Director
Sanctuary shortlisted for three DRUM Recruitment Business Awards
S
Sanctuary Personnel has been shortlisted in three categories at the highly coveted DRUM Recruitment Business Awards including; Best Campaign, Best Large Recruitment Agency and Best Public Sector Recruitment Consultancy. We are particularly thrilled with the nominations since the awards are judged not only on how the business is marketed, but on the day-to-day candidate and client care and how we proactively engage with our communities.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 03
News bites
News bites Key news stories and announcements.
New KSS
announced by Chief Social Worker Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults has announced that a new knowledge and skills statement (KSS) will be produced for practitioners working with older people.
Lyn Romeo
Last year, the government published a KSS for social workers working with adults, which outlined what they expect practitioners to know at the end of their first year in practice. The new statement, which does not yet have a publication date, will be joined by a new continuing professional development framework which will help to improve social work practice.
NAREY REPORT PRAISES CHILDREN’S HOMES Sir Martin Narey’s recent report on residential child care praises the standard of children’s homes. It also makes 34 recommendations for their better use by children’s services. This echoes Ofsted’s social care report findings, with Narey saying “the overwhelming majority of homes are already good or better”. He reports being “struck by a small number of senior managers including directors of children’s services and local authority chief executives who had worked, however briefly, in residential care, and who recognised its potential.” The government has reportedly said it will act on the report and that a residential care leadership board will be set up, reporting directly to Edward Timpson in his capacity as Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 04
News bites
Children’s Commissioner calls for more apprenticeships for care leavers Anne Longfield, Children’s Commissioner for England, has called for councils to guarantee apprenticeship positions for care leavers as part of new measures to improve job prospects for looked-after children. Longfield has said that she is concerned many young people in care often find it difficult to move into work, and that councils should ensure apprenticeship positions are available for every care leaver who wants one. Research gathered by Longfield’s office has shown just 3% of care leavers between the ages of 19-21 were on apprenticeships in 2015, compared with 24% of those in the general population. Her views echo that of children’s charity Barnardo’s, who last year called for the government to reserve 20,000 apprenticeship positions for young people leaving care.
Government
reshuffle sees changes to social care roles The appointment of Theresa May as Prime Minister has seen numerous changes to those responsible for health and social care. At the Department of Health, Jeremy Hunt retained his role as Health Secretary whilst David Mowat has taken the role of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community Health and Care, giving him full responsibility for adult social care, community services, dementia and learning disabilities.
Theresa May
Meanwhile at the Department for Education, Justine Greening has replaced Nicky Morgan as Secretary of State for Education, whilst Edward Timpson will remain in charge of children’s social care, with a new focus on mental health. Timpson’s official title has now changed to become Minister of State for Vulnerable Children and Families, reflecting his new responsibilities.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 05
Resources giveaway
Introducing
‘Talking Mats’ Enabling better conversations with people who have communication difficulties, ‘Talking Mats’ is proving a useful tool for adult and children’s social workers. Used across different age groups, “Talking Mats also help to involve children in access decisions,” says Joan. “Children’s social workers are able to ask the young people they work with to complete two mats; the first about going to mum’s and the second about going to dad’s (or vice versa). The mats can then be used to explain to the parents how the child feels and to decide positive ways to unify care,” she adds. As one children’s social worker said to Joan:
M
any vulnerable people have difficulty communicating. This can make finding out what they are thinking a real challenge; yet understanding their thoughts and feelings is crucial in planning their care.
This is where Talking Mats comes in. Designed by speech and language therapists, the tool gives those with communication difficulties the opportunity to visually express their views using specifically designed symbols.
“The visual impact of having two differing viewpoints is very powerful.” There are three main Talking Mats resources available to help social workers; Health and Wellbeing, Consulting Children and Young People, and Social Care (for residential care). All these resources are available either as symbols and a mat or in digital format. Training in how to get the most from using Talking Mats is available in different formats and locations.
Dr Joan Murphy, Research Speech and Language Therapist and Co-director of Talking Mats, recalls the experience of one adult social worker, who she says “had worked with a client for three years and would only get a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, or if she was lucky a few sentences”. When Joan caught up with the practitioner following their use of the Talking Mats products, she was told, “I have found out a wealth of knowledge, and my client is now living a more fulfilled life, doing things that she likes to do, and we are working with her on bigger life goals.”
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 06
Resources giveaway
Talking Mats giveaway Would you like to win a digital version of the Health and Wellbeing Talking Mats resource? Retailing at £185, it includes 13 digital mats with specifically designed symbols. With no limit to the amount of mats that can be created and stored, it’s a great prize kindly donated by Talking Mats talkingmats.com. Simply send an email to giveaway@sanctuarysocialcare.com with the subject heading “Talking Mats giveaway”. Don’t forget to include your name, postal address, email and phone number.
“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge” Make sure you bookmark this page to read more about the latest social work textbooks which could be of benefit to you and your colleagues. Integrated Care in Action Robin Miller, Hilary Brown and Catherine Mangan, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (jkp.com), £22.99 Integration is now a key expectation within the delivery of health and social care services in the UK and internationally. However, it still remains difficult to achieve and sustain in practice. Based on learning from successful, and unsuccessful, integrated care initiatives, this book is an invaluable guide for those responsible for leading, managing and delivering care across health, social care and housing.
Win these titles For your chance to win all three titles, simply send an email to giveaway@sanctuarysocialcare.com with the subject heading “book giveaway”. Don’t forget to include your name, postal address, email and phone number.
Challenges in Professional Supervision Liz Beddoe and Allyson Davys, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (jkp.com), £24.99 The provision of excellent supervision is strongly linked to improved performance and staff retention. In this book, supervision is examined across a broad range of settings, addressing concerns common to a range of professions, including health, social work and counselling. The book is ideal for managers and senior practitioners in health and social care with an active interest in further developing their supervision practice.
Whistleblowing and Ethics in Health and Social Care Angie Ash, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (jkp.com), £17.99
The closing date for both entries will be 16 December 2016. The winner will be randomly selected and the judge’s decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Those who speak up about poor or unethical practice often do so at a great personal cost. This timely book explores our understanding of the ethics of whistleblowing and shows how managers and organisations can support individuals speaking out. The author reflects on the social, cultural and systemic reasons that make speaking out about poor care so risky.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 07
From the frontline
From the
frontline
Sh a r your n e ews!
Simply email press@ sanctua rysocia if you h lcare.co ave a s m tory yo u wish to share with us .
News directly from council teams.
MOMO APP GIVES YOUNG PEOPLE A VOICE AT BUCKS
Bucks County Council has introduced MOMO, an award-winning app. Short for Mind of My Own, MOMO is helping children and young people across the county to express their views more clearly, become more involved in meetings and make better decisions with their social care team. Clare Dixon, Digital Lead in Children’s Social Care at Bucks County Council, said: “We’ve really embraced MOMO in Bucks. We already have nearly 150 young people using it and have been getting some really encouraging feedback about how it is helping them communicate better with their workers.”
MOMO app on various devices
Rotherham opens dedicated CSE centre Rotherham is transforming the way it deals with child sexual exploitation (CSE) and has developed a ground-breaking service to tackle it. Evolve, the multi-agency specialist team tackling child exploitation, has moved into new premises in Rotherham. The team is one of the first of its kind in the country and consists of social workers, Pace (Parents Against Child Sexual Exploitation), a CSE specialist nurse, a Barnardo's project worker, a children's social care operational manager, business support staff and police officers – all working together in one place. Operating in the Eric Mann's building opposite Rotherham Town Hall, Evolve aims to safeguard children who are, or are likely to, suffer harm through child sexual exploitation.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 08
The opening of Evolve
From the frontline
Sheffield’s Children in Care Council win national award Sheffield’s Diana award recipients
Sheffield’s Children in Care Council have won a national award for their work to help improve the experiences of children in care. The group of 13 -18 year olds, who all have first-hand experience of the care system, were given a Diana award for a film highlighting the importance of listening to and involving young people in decisions that affect them. The film will be shared with social
workers during training and will be included as part of a rolling programme with all social work students in Sheffield. Councillor Jackie Drayton, Sheffield City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said: “The film provides an invaluable resource for our social work training sessions and gives real insight into what it’s like to be in care and how it could be improved”.
NEW MODEL FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICES IN BARNSLEY Barnsley Council’s cabinet has given approval for a new service which will provide targeted support to residents who are experiencing sexual violence and domestic abuse. The new model has been proposed following an independent review of the sexual violence and domestic abuse services in Barnsley. It will address gaps in the current support being given and bring together services to make sure victims receive the right help, when they need it. Cllr Jenny Platts, Cabinet Spokesperson for Communities, said: “I really welcome the proposed new model for sexual violence and domestic abuse services in Barnsley. It will be a really positive step to achieving our priority of providing timely, flexible support to people when they need it the most.”
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 09
A day in the life of...
Work life H
A day in the life of... an award-winning Senior Mental Health Practitioner.
elen Pye is a Senior Mental Health Practitioner at South West Yorkshire’s NHS Trust’s Forensic CAMHS service in Wakefield. She was awarded ‘Mental Health Social Worker of the Year’ and ‘Overall Social Worker of the Year’ in 2015 for championing the role of social work within a healthcare setting. We find out more about what continues to motivate Helen in bringing health and social care closer together.
My journey into social work I fell into social work completely by accident. I have always been extremely interested in what triggers behaviours in people and so when it was suggested to me that I should study social work at the University of Lincoln, I was naturally attracted to the course.
My typical day ...is extremely varied. I work across three localities on behalf of South West Yorkshire’s NHS trust; directly within the community, at a secure children’s home in Leeds and at a young offenders institute. My main focus is working with young offenders who have a history of harmful sexual behaviour, and who pose a risk.
people where I carry out assessments related to their offences and recommend appropriate interventions. I also supervise another frontline social worker and hold overall responsibility for overseeing the wellbeing commitments of the team.
My proudest moments Winning two awards at the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2015 will always be a personal highlight for me. I was nominated by a Consultant Psychiatrist and Clinical Lead and it was extremely humbling to know that my work was recognised by a medic when there is generally a divide between health and social services. Prior to my appointment in 2012, there hadn’t been a social worker within the Forensic CAMHS service, and so I’ve been able to actively encourage my health colleagues to open up referral pathways to social care. It helped that I had worked in child protection in Wakefield Council prior to that. I knew that there were better ways health and social services could work together and I set about making that happen.
There’s no set pattern to my day as I could be at any one of those sites, but a lot of my work involves direct appointments with young
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 10
A day in the life of...
When I started, the team was completing lengthy reports, resulting in longer waiting times for young people. My first step was to lead on the introduction of shorter, more specialist risk assessments. Social work is now integral to the Forensic CAMHS service. With the support of the rest of the team, we are now seeing a much faster throughput of cases with young people gaining access to the specialist help they need within 48 hours of being referred to our service.
Lessons I’ve learnt Although you never stop learning, most of the lessons I learnt were in my first couple of years as a NQSW. After graduating, I worked in a child protection team for three years, which gave me an incredible grounding. In such an intense role, you learn very early on about the things that work and what you should have done differently. Every difficult meeting or discussion I had back then has made me the practitioner I am today.
“In such an intense role, you learn very early on about the things that work and what you should have done differently.” I also use my annual leave wisely. I have one main holiday and I make time for the occasional long weekend; enough time off to recharge without having to come back to a mountain of work! Personally, I love being out in the fresh air after a day’s work; I have a crazy but adorable little jack russell shih-tzu cross called Elvis who joins me on my walks!
The most challenging part of my job ...is finding ways of overcoming some of the organisational challenges that we all face. Services are under increasing pressure, which means there are restrictions on resources. I also work with a variety of young people, each with their own unique set of challenges. It’s very difficult to cater for their individual needs, let alone with depleted resources, but when you find an intervention that works for that person and know that you’ve contributed to their lives, it’s incredibly rewarding.
After work I believe it’s really important to try and keep to a set working pattern that enables you to have a good work-life balance. There are occasions where it’s not possible, but I do try to keep to my hours of 9 to 5.
i th h e r d He l e n w
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 11
og , Elvi
s
In the spotlight
In the spotlight We find out what it is like to work for Doncaster Children’s Services Trust.
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Paul Moffat
t’s been two years since the responsibility for running Doncaster’s children’s services was transferred from the local authority to Doncaster Children’s Services Trust. We talk to Chief Executive, Paul Moffat, about how the Trust intends on being rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted within the next three years and how it is attracting and retaining social workers.
better by October 2017 and ‘outstanding’ by 2019. Whilst we do not know when our next inspection will be, we validate our progress through independent peer review. Our rate of change is rapid and in our recent Ofsted monitoring visit, inspectors said that the Trust had made ‘significant progress’ in improving services for children and young people in Doncaster who need help and protection. All our children’s homes are now rated either good or outstanding and we have reduced the average time to 70 days for a child to be placed for adoption after entering care.
Could you tell us more about the aims of the Trust? What are you doing to The Trust reports directly to the Department reach these standards? for Education and we have been set some very challenging targets. We want to give the best possible support to vulnerable children, young people and families in Doncaster. Our aim is to be Ofsted rated as ‘good’ or
Benefits of living & working in Doncaster: • • •
Doncaster racecourse
Historic town with an award-winning market and a broad range of leisure, shopping and cultural amenities Home to Yorkshire Wildlife Park and Doncaster racecourse Easily accessible, Doncaster is on the East Coast Main Line with connections to London and Leeds, whilst the Robin Hood Doncaster Airport offers flights to over 40 destinations
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 12
We are concentrating on five key areas:
•
Building a strong team who want to work for us; the people we support prefer a consistency in the social
Lakeside Village Designer shopping outlet
In the spotlight
significantly different to how domestic abuse and family services have worked in the past, establishing the root causes of interconnection problems. In addition, we are also one of six pilot sites for the Pause programme, supporting women whose children have been repeatedly placed into care.
What are the benefits of working for a trust?
Cusworth Hall, museum & park
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workers they see Asking children, young people and their families for their views, in order for us to identify how we can work better Introducing new ways of working to improve services, achieve positive outcomes and lasting change for the children and families we support Working closely with partner organisations to establish how we can collectively provide better support Business intelligence and performance reporting that is shared across the organisation to ensure that we allocate our resources wisely and in a way that achieves our targets and improves outcomes for children and young people
Could you tell us about any innovative projects you are running? The Trust is at the forefront of a number of innovative programmes, including the Mockingbird Family Model. As an alternative method of delivering foster care, it aims to improve placement stability, safety and permanency for children and young people in care to improve support for, and retention of, foster carers. A dedicated network of experienced carers offers respite care, peer support, and social activities for other foster carers and their children. We also run Growing Futures; a project focusing on the whole family. This is
There are clear benefits to being a trust, including commercial and operational freedom, which is not always possible within a local authority setting. There is a real ‘we can’ attitude here. In part, this is because we are not held back by conflicting priorities and as a self-contained unit, we are our own problem solvers and are able to make important decisions quicker than we would within a local authority setting. Our staff tell us that faster management decisionmaking is supporting their work, which allows for and encourages innovation. We offer an extensive range of training and development opportunities for the whole workforce; from leadership development programmes to frontline practice improvement tools.
What would encourage people to join your team? We took on several hundred members of staff from the local authority in October 2014, where the service had struggled for many years. Our priorities were to encourage all frontline staff to stay with us long-term, embed consistent good practice and create a positive new culture. Key to achieving this has been reducing caseloads and ensuring social workers receive the right managerial support. To make sure everyone knows what to expect, we have published practice standards. The senior team and I spend time with all our frontline teams and we make sure we respond to staff feedback. Following a recent staff summit, the response we received was overwhelmingly positive. All frontline staff reported feeling determined to make the Trust work. Faster communication, greater stability, supportive management and access to quality training were all cited as major benefits in working here.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 13
What can you expect if you join the team? •
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Continuous service from local authority employers and membership of the local government pension scheme Manageable caseloads enabling children to benefit from positive relationships with their social worker Regular supervision and mentoring Training and development, including the Trust’s ‘Practice Improvement’ and ‘Signs of Safety’ programmes Visible and approachable senior management Your views are listened to and where possible, acted upon
Apply today For vacancies, please visit doncasterchildrentrust.co.uk/jobs.
Promotional feature
Working for Bromley J
Would you like to work in Bromley?
oin the London Borough of Bromley’s Children’s Services, which is committed to embracing new ways of working to help improve the lives of vulnerable children and families.
Great lifestyle Located in the south east corner of London and bordering Kent, Bromley is a hive of activity, being the largest borough in the capital, and is:
• • • • •
Home to a number of bustling high streets and tranquil villages Adorned with 152 parks A cultural haven, with concerts, carnivals and community events In easy commutable distance to the city centre
Sanctuary benefits To be considered for a position, you will need to be registered with Sanctuary where you can benefit from:
• • • • • •
Competitive rates of pay Access to exclusive vacancies Free DBS check and online training A dedicated consultant and support team Part-time or full-time contracts, flexible to your needs Free subscription to Sanctuary Social Work News magazine
Bromley common
Close to Gatwick and Heathrow
Recruiting now for: Social workers and senior social workers in the following teams:
• • •
Referral & Assessment Long Term Safeguarding
Town centre
Court Team
Find out more To find out more and view vacancies, visit sanctuarysocialcare.com/jobs. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 14
Charter Market
Careers advice
Starting out By Zoë Betts, Adult Social Worker & founder of iamsocialwork.
T
he feelings encountered as a new social worker tend to be those of anticipation and an eagerness to get started, mixed with a huge amount of apprehension. I remember being newly qualified, I couldn’t wait to start working on cases and learning new skills. I wanted to put everything I had been learning into practice. But it can fast become overwhelming as the reality of some of the more complex cases takes its toll. It’s important not to get too disheartened at this stage. We’re working in a very challenging reality right now; we have been for several years and it’s not going to get easier any time soon. Our budgets are not likely to increase and the fight we often put up to access support is here to stay, so we need to focus on improving our skills in terms of assessment writing and asking for services. We are active participants in this career and we need to keep doing whatever we can to be great at the job so that the outcomes improve. We must have an understanding of the contexts in which we work in order to adapt to them. Try to identify the ways that you best learn. For me, this is sometimes from a more solitary process, such as reading articles online or on apps, but it is also from working alongside people who are more experienced than I am. My advice to make those first few years an enjoyable learning curve:
Use your supervision It’s your hour and you have to use it as well as
you can to ensure it supports you the most. The further you progress in your role, the more you will really need this time. Figure out how you want it to work and how you best learn. It’s also your responsibility to ensure they are booked regularly. This should be on a rolling basis, or at least at the end of every session, but if they are not, don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor to arrange the next one.
Stay connected This is fundamental to improving your practice. To give yourself the best support and knowledge, don’t rely on one team offering everything you need, you can look way beyond that. There are so many networking opportunities and events within the profession now. It’s a great thing to be able to meet and link with other social workers and students and learn from them and their experiences. You can then create your own peer support networks. Once you have these contacts, don’t be afraid to keep the connection going; ask them for a coffee, or email them if you have a question. It might take them a while to reply, but more often than not, you’ll hear back from them. By making a social media account you’ll have access to so much activity; Twitter is especially good and there are some really useful Facebook pages you can join. You can also read blogs and articles on your commute to help you stay up-to-date and informed.
Be part of a professional body I would recommend joining a good professional body. I personally feel BASW’s leadership and drive is stronger than ever. It is good to be part of something and it
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 16
Careers advice
“By making a social media account you’ll have access to so much activity; Twitter is especially good and there are some really useful Facebook pages you can join.”
Author profile
keeps you informed of any changes in the profession.
Be organised A frequent comment I hear from new social workers is how challenging it can be to juggle everything. I know how tough it can get, but to give yourself the best chance of being able to handle everything, you must be organised from the start. Keep on top of your calendar, put your out-of-office on when you’re not there and make sure the message on your voicemail reflects your availability. It’s so much easier for you to manage yourself and it really helps other people if they know where you are and how they can get hold of you.
Zoë runs iamsocialwork which supports students and qualified social workers to network with one another and learn from academics via a variety of national events and forums. She is a judge for the Social Worker of the Year Awards and works full-time as a social worker, addressing process improvements as part of an integrated hospital discharge team in London.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 17
Radicalisation
Radicalisation Trainer Bal Kaur Howard talks about the Prevent agenda & how to spot radicalisation.
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t’s been a year and a half since the Prevent update placed a statutory duty on local authority staff and partner agencies to work to the Prevent agenda. Bal Kaur Howard, Radicalisation Trainer for Sanctuary Training, discusses the implications for social workers.
On the face of it, local authority duties under the statutory guidance, contained within section 29 of the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015, place a great deal of responsibility on social workers. And with recent high-profile cases emphasising the role agencies play in preventing radicalisation, it’s no wonder practitioners have many questions about how to fulfil their statutory duties.
Defining radicalisation Let’s pause for a moment though and consider the Home Office definition. It refers to radicalisation as “the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism”. However, it’s still interpreted in many different ways, even by practitioners themselves. This has led to a degree of confusion when assessing risk.
When is it a safeguarding concern? Simply encouraging somebody to hold a strong sense of belief is not a safeguarding concern. A young person arriving at an idea is not abuse, but grooming them with fundamentalist thoughts with a hatred for a certain country or religion, is. Vulnerable young people and adults are particularly at risk because their vulnerability is exploited and they are offered a sense of belonging.
The case of Kazi Islam In April 2015, 18-year-old Kazi Islam was convicted of grooming a vulnerable young man after being inspired by the 2013 killing of Fusilier Lee Rigby in Woolwich. The jury was told how Kazi Islam befriended Henry Thomas after having met him at college, and sympathised with Thomas over a break-up with a girlfriend. He was reported to have used “flattery and threats” via social media to groom the then 19 year old Thomas into planning the killing of two soldiers.
As Commander Richard Walton, Head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said following the conviction of Kazi Islam [above] “there is currently a need to protect vulnerable or impressionable adults or children from this brand of Islamic extremism”. Grooming involves emotional abuse of varying degrees and sometimes physical and sexual abuse, with young girls travelling abroad after promises of marrying a soldier, all of which are considered child protection issues. This is why it is helpful to consider radicalisation as part of the overall safeguarding agenda. It is no different to safeguarding young people from child sexual exploitation or honour based violence.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 18
Radicalisation
What makes an individual vulnerable to radicalisation? Individuals can be radicalised in a number of ways, many of which may overlap. The following, however, can make some young people more vulnerable than others:
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Identity crisis. Distance from culture / religion and feeling uncomfortable with their place in the society around them Personal crisis. Peer, social, family or faith group rejection or isolation; searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging Personal circumstances. Migration; local community tensions; events affecting country or region of origin; alienation from UK values; having a sense of grievance that is triggered by personal experience of racism, discrimination or aspects of Government policy Criminality. Experiences of imprisonment; previous involvement with criminal groups and gangs Mental health issues. Anxiety, depression, and relational or personality problems can make a person vulnerable. Perceived ‘support’ from others can offer a release from inner angst and turmoil
Signs of grooming There are many different paths to radicalisation and spotting the signs is not an exact science. There are, however, some behaviours that are commonly found in those who may have been groomed. If you suspect somebody is a victim of this type of abuse, you may want to consider the following:
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Have they lost interest in activities they used to enjoy? Has their circle of friends changed, including on social media, and are they distancing themselves from those they were previously close to? Have they expressed sympathy with violent extremist groups, condoning their actions and ideologies? Do their friends express radical or extremist views? Are they beginning to use more scripted language, including derogative terms?
• • •
Are they quick to condemn those they do not agree with? Have they become more argumentative and domineering? Has their appearance changed?
A social work response It can be difficult to determine the correct social work response, especially if the young person you are concerned about is living with a family member who holds extremist ideologies. Determining whether the individual is compliant or whether they are being groomed involves solid assessment, a strong understanding of the family and thorough risk analysis. Working closely with the police and other relevant agencies from the outset is vitally important. I say this to everyone I train; if you have any concerns whatsoever, make a referral to your local Channel Panel, which will decide the right, if any, intervention is required. All you are doing is sharing that risk and if a police Prevent Officer says to you ‘this doesn’t fit the Prevent criteria on radicalisation’, at least you have shared your concerns with the appropriate person.
Further reading Let’s Talk About It Provider of practical help and guidance on stopping people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. ltai.info
Inspire A non-governmental advocacy organisation working to counter extremism and gender inequality. wewillinspire.com
P4S Prevent for Schools brings together useful guides and advice on the Prevent Strategy. preventforschools.org
If you are interested in radicalisation training, which can be tailored to your area’s specific requirements, email info@sanctuarytraining.com.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 19
Mental health
Crossing the bridge YoungMinds Trainer and Social Worker, Phil Rigotti, talks about managing the transition from CAMHS to AMHS.
I
like metaphors. They help me see a situation differently. So here’s one that I hope will help us when thinking about a young person’s journey from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 20
Mental health
I have been lost in the jungle for the last two years. But fortunately, 18 months ago, I bumped into Bear Grylls who offered to help me out. He helped me with some deep-rooted fears and anxieties and encouraged me to be confident in my strengths and abilities. He patiently listened and explored with me about what makes me ‘me’ and the things I’ve experienced; my heartbreak, my distress. He suggested some things that could help, and with his support I tried some of those ideas. There have been snakes, bugs, cliffs and raging torrents to contend with but with Bear Grylls on my side, I have tackled them. Bear understands me and I trust him with my life. One day whilst hacking through the vines, Bear tells me that in a couple of months he will be saying goodbye to me as I am now too old. We will reach a ravine together where there is a rope bridge − you know the type; old rope and rotten wood. On the other side of the bridge is another wilderness guide who will continue the journey with me. Bear won’t come over the bridge with me but assures me that it will all be fine. Well, I’m not that comfortable with the whole, “It’s perfectly safe. It’ll be fine once you get to the other side” rope bridge thing. Why would he not come with me? I kind of imagined he might actually carry me across that bridge. He says he’ll miss me but he has to go as there are others that are lost in the forest and need his help.
“There have been snakes, bugs, cliffs and raging torrents to contend with but with Bear Grylls on my side, I have tackled them.” Phil Rigotti, YoungMinds Trainer & Social Worker
Let’s pause the metaphor right there, at the bridge. Now, let’s put ourselves in the shoes of the many young people who transition from CAMHS to AMHS every year. As social workers, it’s really important we question our relationship with them. Think about the nature and quality of your relationship rather than your job role or specialism. A young person speaking in the report ‘Pushed into the Shadows’ (2007) said “You need something in-between rather than just jumping from child to adult services... You need one specific person who will stick with you and not lots of different people who will just pass you on the whole time.” Given that this was published nearly ten years ago I wonder if we are keeping the voice of that young person alive when we plan transitions. The principle of the ‘named person’ is one that is described as the person ‘who knows them well’. This ‘one specific person’ is the most essential element to get right if we are to achieve what the young person would view as a successful transition. You will find it said elsewhere that it is important to understand the distinction between transition and transfer. If we understand transition to mean ‘a planned and purposeful process that addresses the needs of adolescents and young adults as they move from child-orientated to adult-orientated services’, and transfer to simply mean, ‘the point at which the young person’s care moves to adult services’ (Lamb, 2016), then we can start to think more clearly about the task in hand. We have policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols aplenty when it comes to managing the transition but this only gets us as far as the bridge. We may feel that we have done everything we are supposed to do; we have our named person, we have a multi-agency plan, and we’ve followed the guidance.
About YoungMinds YoungMinds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. It is campaigning to improve the transition of care from CAMHS to AMHS and believes:
• •
• • • •
Young people need to receive a continuity of care with no delay in receiving services Whatever age is chosen to move young people into adult services, the transfer should be negotiated and supported to make sure that the young person does not leave services only to experience great difficulty in another aspect of their life AMHS budgets need to shift to focus more on the 16 -19 age group The style of service needs to change within AMHS so it is more holistically focused, as in the CAMHS model Young people’s care plans need to involve a multi-agency approach Young people need to have a more central role in deciding their care plans
To find out more about YoungMinds and its campaign, visit _ youngminds.org.uk/about/our_campaigns/transitions.
So, there I am at the bridge. All I have to do is cross over, right? Well, I’m scared. I’m anxious. I feel abandoned. I know I have to do this, I understand the process. But please, just let Bear carry me across. For the young people you work with, who is their Bear Grylls?
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 21
Celebrating social work
last r from To hea ocial verall S year’s O Year, r of the Worke to ye, turn Helen P 0 page 1
“As a profession, we are on the ‘map’ and positive changes are being made” We catch up with Beverley Williams MBE, frontline Social Worker and founder of the Social Worker of the Year Awards. What motivated you to start the Social Worker of the Year Awards?
Beverley Williams MBE
When I founded the awards in 2006, I was a Newly Qualified Social Worker (NQSW). At the time, many social workers were feeling very despondent. Not only were they feeling the pressure of their job, they were being portrayed negatively by the press. They did not feel valued or recognised for the good work they were doing. The challenge was that we couldn’t, and still cannot, disclose those cases where we have saved children from a life of abuse or where we have worked with parents to keep children at home with their family. I recall one
newspaper editor saying to me "the media is not interested in printing stories like these, as they won't sell newspapers". This inspired me to set up these awards. I felt it was a way of getting social workers the recognition they deserve, to build up their self-esteem and to make them feel proud say "I am a social worker".
Did you think the awards would become this big? In one word, no. I gave myself a five-year goal just to see if social workers would take to the idea and come together at the awards ceremony. It was a success; the local paper had a positive, albeit small write-up of the event, and I got so many thanks from those
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 22
Social Worker of the Year Awards 2012 at the House of Commons
Celebrating social work
who attended and was encouraged to do it again. It was hard work organising it singlehandily working full-time as a social worker in child protection, but it was worthwhile. I still recall meeting with Sanctuary Personnel’s MD, James Rook, shortly after the 2010 event. It was an afternoon I will never forget. Since joining forces, the awards have grown from infancy to adulthood, in such a short space of time. James and his team embraced my focus, determination and vision to make the awards what they are today.
Beverley receiving her MBE award at Buckingham Palace, 2015
We held the ceremony in the House of Commons for a while, but we quickly outgrew it. Now, the annual event is hosted at a five star hotel in London and has around 300 attendees each year. We still get invited back to the House of Commons for an official celebratory reception. Nominees honestly feel valued and recognised by these awards. I will never forget the year I met Brian Mitchell, a Practice Educator from Bradford College. When he was called up to receive his award, it was so overwhelming it brought tears to my eyes and I remember saying "this is what it's all about". Brian went on to become a judge for the awards. I really do believe, as a profession, we are on
“When he was called up to receive his award, it was so overwhelming it brought tears to my eyes and I remember saying “this is what it’s all about.”
the ‘map’ and positive changes are being made. When I visit local authorities I receive such a warm welcome for initiating the awards. It’s also great the scheme has been replicated in Scotland and Wales, as well as Australia. My dream is for it to be televised one day.
Why is recognising the work of social workers so important? Social workers never really switch off, as these are real people that we work with every day. Children’s lives are in our hands and the decisions we make from unborn to adulthood can change lives forever. As a social worker myself, I get personal satisfaction at the end of each working day; I go home to my family and can sleep with ease, knowing I have done the best I can for the children and families I work with. We are dedicated professionals who truly deserve the recognition that the awards bring.
What environent do social workers thrive in? As social workers, it is imperative we choose to work somewhere where we are happy, feel safe in our practice and have a supportive team. I spent two wonderful years working in a family support team at Peterborough City Council and my manager was always available; she really cared and nurtured her staff. Regardless as to whether they are agency or permanent, staff should be given the same training opportunities, tools and flexibility of working. This type of environment is ideal for social workers as the role itself can be stressful. I always say "behind every good social worker, is a good manager".
What advice would you give those new to the profession?
Brian Mitchell receiving his award at the Social Worker of the Year Awards 2013
To stay focused, be positive and remain committed. You may come up against difficult times or issues that cause concern, but as long as you have a good team manager and supportive colleagues, you will succeed. NQSWs are recognised at the awards. In fact, when Zahraa Adam was newly qualified, she not only won her nominated category but also won the ‘Overall Social Worker of Year’ award in 2014. My advice would be to never give up; no matter what stage you are at in your social work career, you can make a significant difference.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 23
Training
sneak Take a s course of our w ie v t e r p lm a w our fi and vie g.com in ar y train u t c n a s
Are you asking the
right questions? We find out how being trained in Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) has transformed the daily practice of Duty Team Manager, Lauren Blighton.
“I
was mind-blown by what I learnt on the ABE course”, recalls Lauren, who leads a team of duty social workers in Manchester.
Lauren Blighton
“It made me totally rethink how I question children, and in fact, anybody. At the time I had been in frontline social work for nine years and had been involved in many Section 47 cases, yet I was completely unaware I was asking children and young people leading questions,” she adds. At the very beginning of the course, Sanctuary Training’s tutor Robin Watts explained how the vast majority of professionals working with vulnerable young witnesses take what he calls ‘the queen of hearts’ approach. They have every intention to achieve best evidence, but have a tendency to use leading questions that can jeopardise a criminal case. Using an actress who plays the role of the witness, Lauren says “I’ll never forget one of the scenarios I was given where the actress was playing the role of the victim’s older sister. The role-play was incredibly tense as I used ABE techniques to discover that she too had
been abused.” “Attending the course was one of those defining moments in my career as a social worker. It has literally transformed my practice; not just how I approach questioning children and young people in criminal cases, but in day-to-day frontline social work.” After completing the course in September 2015, Lauren secured a frontline social worker role at Reading Borough Council, where she was able to use her training to full-effect. “Generally, social workers are not present during the interview of witnesses, but having done the training, I was directly involved and able to ask questions to achieve best evidence,” she says. Although a very small percentage are ABE trained, Lauren believes “every social worker would benefit from learning these techniques”, which is why she plans on passing on her knowledge to her team. She says, “I intend to run a session explaining exactly what they can and cannot ask, how they should approach other professionals involved in a case, and what consent issues they need to be aware of in achieving best evidence,” she concludes.
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 24
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Achieving Best Evidence (ABE) Five - day course Delivered by retired Child Protection Police Officer, Robin Watts. Our course equips practitioners with the skills to plan and execute ABE interviews.
Form F Assessment Two - day course This course provides participants with greater confidence in completing Form F assessments in order to qualify as a Form F Assessor.
BIA Refresher One- day course As an update to Best Interest Assessor Training, attendees are brought up-to-date with current legislation and how it relates to their daily practice.
AMHP Refresher Three- day course This 18 hour programme is an essential part of an AMHP’s responsibility to undertake training to maintain their licence to practice.
Care Act One- day course Designed for adult social work practitioners, attendees gain an increased awareness and understanding of the implementation of the Care Act 2015.
CONTACT US If you are interested in taking part in one of our specialist training courses or want to find out more about the other courses we run, visit sanctuarytraining.com. Tel: 0333 7000 028 | Email: info@sanctuarytraining.com | Web: sanctuarytraining.com
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 25
International working
Adelaide
Working
down under We hear from one UK social worker who spent a decade working in rural Australia.
“I
wouldn’t be where I am today without having been to Australia” remarks Independent BIA and Form F Assessor, Jackie Brown, as we interview her about her seven year stint working in South Australia.
In 2002, after 10 years working as a social worker in England, Jackie decided to take a career break to go travelling but returning a year later, she knew she wasn’t quite ready to settle. So when she heard on the radio that Australia was extending its visa applications to attract more social workers, she had to go. As a condition of Jackie’s visa, she was only allowed to work in a rural locality. This she says “made the adjustment to social work in Australia particularly challenging”. Based in Adelaide initially, she found herself working with a broad range of people, including those from Australia’s indigenous communities, some of who did not speak English. Jackie recalls “I was used to working with people from different cultures, but those living in
the rural communities in Australia are disadvantaged on a scale I hadn’t come across before. Consequently, their life chances are dramatically reduced as is their life expectancy, which is typically late 60s.” The climatic extremes were also considerable, Jackie remarks about her time as a social worker for South Australian Police “I’ll never forget hopping on board the police plane to go and visit somebody living at Coober Pedy; the residents live underground as temperatures outside reach up to 47°c in the Summer”. In fact, there are 3,500 people from 45 different countries living in the opal-mining community’s dugouts and mud caves, which she says “was one of the most interesting aspects of my time over there”.
“Social workers are recognised by both professionals and the general public for their broader skills; especially around therapy and counselling.”
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 26
International working
It’s working with such remote communities alongside the police that has given Jackie a more holistic approach to her social work practice. When asked what she treasures most about her time there, she instantly says “working for the police, where I had a therapeutic role as a social worker. I was supporting people who have witnessed unimaginable traumas, which I still use in my practice today”. Sydney Harbour, Christmas Day 2012
It’s clear from talking with Jackie that there are stark differences between social work practice in the UK and Australia. A lot of services in Australia are what she refers to as “non-government”, with each state having different laws and systems. This was particularly apparent when she moved from working in Adelaide to New South Wales, where in her owns words, she had to “learn about an entirely new system all over again”. Not only this, the majority of frontline work in Australia is recorded on paper. Jackie doesn’t remember ever having to document her case notes on a computer, even up until she left in 2013. Social work is also very much healthcare led in Australia, which can have its “plus as well as its negative points” she notes. “Social workers are recognised by both professionals and the general public for their
broader skills; especially around therapy and counselling, which is a positive thing,” she adds. In many ways, the system is far more relaxed in Australia. This can enable a greater degree of flexibility for social workers, but “when it comes to safeguarding children and adults, the lack of an overarching social services system is a drawback, especially in regards to child protection,” recalls Jackie. Given the focus on therapy and counselling, we expected mental health services not to be dissimilar to the UK, but Jackie, who is now working for Sanctuary Social Care as an Independent BIA Assessor, explains that services are much further behind in Australia. She recalls working with those on the autistic spectrum and the struggles she had finding them the support they needed. This, she says, is because “most mental health services are set up following successful tenders so there doesn’t appear to be a consistent service offering”. She says “there’s a more structured approach in the UK” and whilst she misses the freedom and varied nature of the roles she held in Australia, she adds “I am glad to be back and able to put what I learned in the outback into practice here”.
Coober Pedy
Masters graduation at The University of New South Wales
Sanctuary Social Work News ~ 27
Your CPD
What would you like to read ...as part of your Continuing Professional Development?
P
roviding a magazine that is interesting and relevant to you is our top priority and we would like to hear your thoughts on what you would like to see featured. After all, reading Sanctuary Social Work News can count as part of your Continuing Professional Development. Our editorial team will happily consider any ideas for future content. Perhaps you are involved in or know about a project you think deserves wider recognition, or maybe you or your team would like to contribute? Let us know your ideas by filling in our feedback survey at surveymonkey.com/s/ sanctuarymagazine or by getting in touch using the details below. We look forward to hearing from you!
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