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

• Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England. england@basw.co.uk

• Rob Mitchell, Social Work Awards Trustee. @RobMitch92

"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 increasingly uncertain and complicated, the next few years will present an opportunity to draw an increasing number of people into the profession.

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.

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 must help people realise they can play an important part in transforming lives. Finally, there is a mixed economy of training routes into social work, whether that’s traditional university-based routes, fasttracked 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

"Social workers in children's services are often automatically associated with the removal of children from families. How can we help to change this stigma?" Hazel, Social Worker, Surrey

The most important aspect of a children’s social worker role is building relationships with children and families and working in partnership to achieve the best outcomes for each individual child. This means supporting children to remain with families wherever possible. Unfortunately, as a profession, the reports in the media are often factually incorrect or focus on the negative which further contributes to the stigma and does not accurately reflect the different roles and responsibilities of social workers.

Social workers need to be proud of their work, promote their role and be supported to speak out in order to address how the profession is portrayed. One aspect of this is social workers representing themselves in the media and employers giving social workers permission to do so, in addition to celebrating the significant rewards and achievement of working with children and families.

Only by sharing the true nature of social work can we change the narrative portrayed in the media and within wider society.

Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England

"Do you feel that specialism’s in adult social work should be valued and protected?" Rosalie, Social Worker, Cornwall

In the main, social work education and training is generic and this reflects that social work is at its best when it is united through its commonality which is in its values and approach.

However once qualified there remains a compelling argument that social work specialisms, in terms of adult and children's social work, is required. This is because primary legislation for children and adults is significantly different and as such leads to a natural separation in terms of how social work is mobilised, particularly across local authorities, education and the NHS. Our concern needs to be around the demand to further segregate social work within children’s and adult services.

Within adult social work, my response to social workers who request that their role is ‘specialist’ in its approach is that social work itself is the specialism and cannot and should not be defined further.

The legislation that governs health and social care for adults is generic (Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act) and not specific to user groups, therefore, the argument that the separation between adult and children's social work can be further expanded into user group-specific specialism is invalid. Any adult at any time can be subject to the same legal framework which governs the lives of all adults regardless of social care involvement or not. Therefore, it makes little sense to define social work.

Whilst adult social workers may glean extra knowledge relating to health conditions, this in itself does not enhance the specialism of social work.

Rob Mitchell, Principal Social Worker, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Lancaster University

"If social workers are in such short supply, why are admin support jobs being cut leaving social workers to do more at their desk? Munro said the balance should be 80/20 but currently it is 20/80!" Anonymous, Social Worker

We are facing unprecedented times regarding pressures upon local authorities to make budget savings and vital administrative support jobs are being cut or administrative services re-configured. This is resulting in the transfer of additional administrative responsibilities onto social workers and directly impacting upon social workers having less quality time to invest and build relationships with families and children.

This links to BASW England’s 80/20 campaign, which found that social workers spend 80% of their time at the computer or completing paperwork and only 20% in direct contact with children and families building relationships. The cut in admin staff has exacerbated this problem.

The campaign seeks to address this balance and improve and change working conditions. This, in turn, will improve outcomes and create opportunities for social workers to spend more quality time with children and families, truly focusing on relationshipbased social work.

Relationship-based social work practice takes time, commitment and investment. These cuts are shortsighted and endanger best social work practice. I urge you, your colleagues and employers to join the 80/20 campaign - children, families, social workers and colleagues must work together to reverse this trend which is impacting upon the provision of relationship-based social work practice and thus having a fundamentally negative impact upon the lives of children and families.

Visit basw.co.uk to make your pledge.

Maris Stratulis, National Director, BASW England