Professional Social Work: Part of the solution Innovations in - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Professional Social Work: Part of the solution

Innovations in workforce development Dr Ruth Allen CEO British Association of Social Workers

The social work workforce now

• 115,000 across UK
• 92,200 in England
• c. 32,000 fte (35%) in statutory children’s services (2015)
• c. 18,500 fte (21%) in adult statutory services (SfC 2016)
• Regulated separately in each nation of the UK
• 130 graduate and postgraduate routes into training in 70+ institutions
• In England c. 4700 graduates: Just keeps pace with leavers, declining

trend

• Step Up and Apprenticeships: employer oriented
• In England new controversial fast track programmes: leadership and

innovation oriented

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Social work and innovation

• Social work has too often been the ‘recipient’ of innovation ideas and

not the recognised agent:

• Managerialism
• Care Management in adults
• Top down reform
• Under-rewarded professional careers
• Lack of direct connection with evaluation, evidence creation and research
• Caseloads and bureaucracy
• Lack of consistent CPD framework (esp in England)

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Hot off the press – Social work and the workplace research (Bath Spa Uni with SWU and BASW)

• Repeats past findings on poor working conditions
• Worst for children’s services
• High caseloads, too little time and bureaucracy were top problems

along with …..

• Too little control at work
• Long hours
• Peer support from other social workers was key mitigating factor

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Hot off the press – Social work and the workplace research (Bath Spa Uni with SWU and BASW)

• Top line messages for harnessing social work innovation
• Enable professional control and autonomy
• Have sensible demand management and ergonomics for better productivity
• Create learning cultures
• Regulate for professionalism
• Build on the power of peer professional networks
• Develop effective, profession-led CPD that includes leadership and innovation
• Develop the professional body - BASW

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The Professional Capabilities Framework

• Developed by TCSW and

transferred to BASW when the College closed

• Being refreshed in partnership with

RiP/fa

• Retaining its integrity as whole

profession CPD framework

• Focus on leadership, co-

production, whole career ambition

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Social workers making the difference:

examples

• Principal Social Workers network: An effective, replicated leadership

role leading to cultural and practice profession-led change through peer networking

• Approved Mental Health Professionals leads network: Self-organised

leadership

• Restorative Practice in Leeds adults’ services: Enabling strengths

based practice and co-production

• BASW and CQC collaborating to raise profile and good practice of

social workers as commissioners of residential care placements

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• Ruth.allen@basw.co.uk
• #ruthallenonline

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