Adult Social Work Seminars

www.basw.co.ukThe British Association of Social Workers

April 4th 2011 The purpose of the seminar:

The seminars developed as a response to members concerns about what is happening to adult social work

The seminars aim to share experiences and use the experiences to influence policy and defend social work with adults

Introductions

• Joe Godden (England Adult Policy Development)

• Introductions from attendees

Name, job, student, where you work and expectations – please speak up

• Attendance list – please write e mail clearly• Permission to share e mails and photos + confidentiality

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Format for the seminar

• BASW who we are and update re issues• Brief overview of the issues for adult social work

• Discussion of key issues in groups

• Feedback on the issues from the groups

• What BASW can do – what do you want action on?

www.basw.co.ukThe British Association of Social Workers

What is BASW?

• BASW is the largest professional association representing social work and social workers in the UK

• Help, support and advice

• BASW is independent and does not receive any Government funding

• Chance to be engaged in a national and international profession

www.basw.co.ukThe British Association of Social Workers

Support when the going gets tough

BASW’s Advice and Representation Service:• the only service of it’s kind offering support,

advice and direct representation for members

• the only such service which is provided byprofessional social workers for professional social workers

• BASW’s professional indemnity insurance covers individual members against the cost of defending legal action taken against them

www.basw.co.ukThe British Association of Social Workers

Picture by CHANGE

Developments in BASW/CoSW

• Campaigning for social work• CPD system to interactively record CPD and link

learning to outcomes• BASW CPD service• Parliamentary Officer appointed - Cat Smith • Meetings with Health Professions Council• Revision of sub committees• An arm of BASW/CoSW becoming a recognised Trade

Union • The future of BASW May 26th

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Interactive web site • Join BASW

• Jobs

• News / information

• BASW policies

• myBASW • Access to Journals

• ConsultationsThe British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Health and Social Care Bill

• Been making strong representations and looks like have succeeded in Government amending the Bill to include:

– Chief Social Worker– and College with statutory powers.

• http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/healthandsocialcare/committees/houseofcommonspublicbillcommitteeonthehealthandsocialcarebill201011.html

• On going meetings with ministers and MPs re– role and function of SW and protection of function

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

BASW and the College of Social Work

• BASW/CoSW was dealt very badly by the Interim Board• BASW/CoSW believes that there is a once in a life time

opportunity for social workers to “own” their profession and have a strong, and independent College as other professions do

• Add your voice to the campaign, stand up for social work and social work values

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Recent activity re The College

A set of shared principles have been agreed for the college:– A college that is social worker led – A college that is strong and effective – A college that provides a strong, authoritative voice for the profession – A college that Is independent – A college that is accountable

More meetings have been agreed over the coming month to discuss a process of convergence to build one college.

• An arm of BASW/CoSW becoming a recognised Trade Union • CPD system to interactively record CPD and link learning to outcomes• The system will enable members to use their electronic portfolio to meet

demands of HPC, including HPC audit and link learning to Social Work Professional Standards

• BASW CPD accreditation service

Update re College of Social Work 19.4.11

• An announcement is pending between BASW and the Interim Board which will be called a memorandum of understanding. This memorandum will say that a new College is being planned, which will combine the resources of the Interim Board (their resources are time limited) and BASW. In order to develop the College BASW and the Interim Board will work together, including an agreement not take any decisions that are without the agreement of the other. BASW members will vote at the AGM whether to accept the proposals, which will see BASW subsumed into the College of Social Work.

• The new College will invite Trade Unions (note plural) to participate, but no single Trade Union will have an exclusive deal.

• All BASW members are urged to attend the AGM on May 26th in Birmingham to vote on this crucial issue

What is happening re SWRB

• The Social Work Reform Board promised a great deal. BASW/CoSW fully involved. Shift from “must” to “advisory”

• SWRB offers a great opportunity for social work, it is worth looking at the “One Year On” report: http://www.education.gov.uk/swrb/– Employer standards – – Capabilities Framework– Supervision Framework– Demand and Supply of Social Workers– Assessed and Supported Year in Employment

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

What is happeningadult services?

• Comprehensive Spending Review / cuts

• Munro report • Social Work Reform • GSCC to HPC• Long term funding of social

care• Performance management

• Vision Adult Social Care• Personalisation - role of social

work?• The “Big Society”• Health and Social Care Bill• Mental Health Strategy• Integration / disaggregation• Law commission review of

adult social care law

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Key issues for you

• In groups identify the top

three issues for you re adult services – 5 minutes (so don’t analyse) – appoint a spokesperson

• Select the top issue and further discussion in groups

30 mins.• Feedback to the meeting

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Key issues you have raised:

The British Association of Social Workers www.basw.co.uk

Resources that social workers have at their disposal – reductions in quantity with increased demand. This posing issues of social workers having continually lower expectations of service users regarding services – this not easy.

Personalisation agenda of concern, whilst social workers fully supportive of the principles of personalisation two things are fundamental:1.Personal budgets are not for everyone, many service users, particularly at a time of crisis, do not want to take on the demands of managing a personal budget2.There need to be good support systems in place for service users who opt for personal budgets. These resources include:

• Flexible commissioned services• Support to manage personal budgets

Key issues ctd.• Concerns were expressed about the threat to the role of social workers in multi

disciplinary teams and particularly the the importance of professional support to social workers by social workers. There was also concern about Community Treatment Orders and the vital role of social workers – as independent practitioners – to ensure independence in statutory work.

• It was acknowledged that adult services teams need a skill mix, but that it is essential to have qualified social workers to support these teams. Adult safeguarding, plus all the duties in relation to statutory safeguards for vulnerable adults is complex work and without the training and experience there will be many people put at risk.

• Concerns were also expressed about the importance of social work in commissioning and the review of services.

• There was discussion about the possibility of adult social work practices as a model for future social work. There was good debate about this area and although concerns were expressed there were also views expressed that this direction could improve services to service users. The early reports of the Social Work Practice Pilots in Looked After Children’s services were mentioned.

Other issues

• The move from GSCC to HPC was discussed and the reasons for this – the main one being that it will be a lot cheaper for social workers to register than if GSCC was to continue as public subsidies to the GSCC will cease. (If GSCC registration was to remain it would cost social workers £230 a year. The registration fee for HPC has not been finalised

• The HPC have experience of regulation of 15 professions and have developed systems to support professionals, such as on line CPD recording

• The issue was raised as to why there needs to be a regulator as well as a college. This is the way that most professions work. The HPC will ensure minimum standards, the College will drive up professionalism, public image, ensure quality of training and qualifications etc.

• The challenge of social workers coming off degree courses and not finding work because of the recession was raised. It is hoped that the issue of supply and demand will be tackled more systematically by the SWRB / College

Next steps

• It was agreed that there is a great opportunity for social work to develop and thrive with the SWRB and the College of Social Work on the horizon. It is also a time of great challenges and it was agreed that social workers need to stand together in order to provide good quality social work.

• A number of participants expressed interest in forming a network or BASW branch in the Bristol area – Joe Godden said this would be more than welcomed and support would be given.

• Joe Godden said he would be more than happy to return to Bristol in six months or a year to continue the debate.

Thank you

• Please do not hesitate to contact me j.godden@basw.co.uk

• 07917897515• PS BASW are running a national student and NQSW

conference on June 28th in London http://www.basw.co.uk/events/ £15 BASW members, £20 non members.

• There are also lots of other events coming up in the next few months which are either free or minimum cost. If you want similar events in the Bristol area I am happy to discuss