Ask the Expert
Ask the Expert In our ‘Ask the Experts’ column, we’ve asked some high profile figures from the social work progression to answer the questions you are asking. If you’d like to submit a question for a future issue of Social Work News, please email press@mysocialworknews.com or find us on our social media channels @myswnews
Meet the Panellists.
Kate Purser, Recruitment Director, Frontline. communications@thefrontline.org.uk
"How will people be attracted to the profession in the future?" Sarah, Principal Social Worker, East Sussex Social work is a life-changing career, attracting different people for a whole range of reasons. We asked some of the alumni from our programmes about why they first wanted to become social workers and the most common responses were to make a real difference, to interact with diverse communities and to do a job that doesn’t involve being at a desk all day. As the world becomes
Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England. england@basw.co.uk
Rob Mitchell, Social Work Awards Trustee. @RobMitch92
increasingly uncertain and complicated, the next few years will present an opportunity to draw an increasing number of people into the profession.
must help people realise they can play an important
Firstly, it’s important to share the aspirational benefits of the role: the challenge and reward, the impact, the diversity of the workforce and the professional development opportunities. The profession requires resilience, but we also need to reassure people that with training and support, social workers can thrive.
that’s traditional university-based routes, fast-
Then there are role modelling successes. Stories of great social work and evidence of positive impact made in communities by social workers are vital. We
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part in transforming lives. Finally, there is a mixed economy of training routes into social work, whether tracked training or apprenticeships. Each caters for people at different stages of life and from different backgrounds. This offers a greater opportunity to attract different people into the profession and we should celebrate the diversity that this mix will bring into the workforce. The social work landscape is changing, and we need to celebrate all that it brings. Kate Purser, Recruitment Director, Frontline
