Celebrating World Social Work Day!

BASW Council Member, Dr. Toyin Adenugba-Okpaje shares what World Social Work Day means to her.
Toyin

What an honour it is to share my thoughts as we celebrate our outstanding profession. 

I am Dr. Toyin Adenugba-Okpaje, a practicing social worker and academic tutor. As a frontline social worker, I work with older people in a Scottish local authority. As an academic tutor, I provide foundational support to future social workers. Recently, I have developed mentoring opportunities for secondary school students especially those from minoritised communities. These differing roles enable me to contribute my quota in a diverse environment.

As such, this year’s theme: Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Wellbeing is quite personal. The importance associated with care and respect across generations, building strong societies, and promoting wisdom for a better future for all are values that inform my practice. I strongly believe that renegotiating practice relationships will not only strengthen our profession but it will also promote strong societies where difference is respected and valued. Societal reorientation across the divide is required and I believe social workers can contribute positively to this.

As Co-Chair of the Scottish National Standing Committee (NSC), the potential to influence positive changes in the working conditions of Scottish social workers  drives my time in office. May it be tackling discriminatory practice, professional identity, and decolonisation or a review of the policies that prescribe our work as social workers such as the Adults With Incapacity (AWI) Act; the aim is to achieve a caring social work practice and that is relevant to everyone. Hence, I use this opportunity to also call for closer collaborations with SWS, SSSC, and COSLA. 

I must say that since coming into post, I have found SASW members, especially the Co-Vice Chairs and NSC members as very committed and supportive to the achievement of the goals outlined above. They have readily volunteered their time to work on various consultations for the Scottish government. For example, the call for views on proposed changes to the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000. For these opportunities, I am filled with gratitude and appreciation. 

Truly, it is time to celebrate all that we have achieved knowing that we have much more to do in our changing world. 

Happy social work month!