BASW Chair: Julia Ross
Julia Ross joined BASW National Council in December 2019. She is passionate about people who use services, their family, friends and carers. She has worked in health and social care for over 40 years and been a proud BASW member since qualifying. Julia has a wealth of national and local experience across large scale complex health and social care organisations in the public, private and voluntary sector. She qualified as nurse at St Thomas Hospital and then requalified as a social worker, initially in children and families work and child protection. She served as Social Work Advisor to the Select Committee on Violence in the Family in 1975. She spent 10 years as Director of Social services and 3 years as CE of an integrated PCT. She is very interested in how people benefit from integrated health and social care services. Julia chaired the Mental Health Charity Together for 9 years. She led the Care Services Improvement Programme in the DH for 5 years and latterly PredictX, a data and predictive analytics company. She serves on the Royal Society of Medicine DigiHealth Council, Acute Frailty Network, ADASS committees and Non Executive Director Isle of Wight NHS Trust where she spends any spare time writing.
I became a social worker to help ensure that everyone is included in society. I have worked in community and hospital services for adults, and more recently for Research in Practice for Adults. I now work for myself, helping organisations to improve social care. I particularly care about support for practitioners, using evidence, social work with older people and combatting ageism. I co-host the Helpful Social Work podcast.
I live in Devon with my partner and our cat. I enjoy cycling, playing the piano and watching movies.
Caroline McDonald, Nominated Director – Scotland National Standing Committee Co-Vice Chair
Caroline first joined the BASW council in October 2022 as an appointed director. Caroline also recently joined the Finance, Organisational and Development committee too. Caroline has found both roles interesting and they have helped her to gain a broader understanding of BASW's structure and governance.
Caroline was elected in early 2020 by the membership to join the National Standing Committee in Scotland (SASW). This has been a great opportunity for her to learn more about policy and proposed legislation and its impact on social work and wider society. Caroline has taken part in many forums to amplify the voices of social workers to ensure that they have a strong and collective voice. Caroline has enjoyed being part of short life working groups on conferencing planning and events, contributing to government consultations and representing social work at an event in the Scottish parliament to review mental health legislation. Earlier this year Caroline took on the role of Co-Vice Chair at SASW, it's been great for her to work closely with the SASW team and committee members.
Caroline is a 'home grown' social worker, having started out in her local authority 26 years ago. Initially she worked in housing and social care until she qualified as a social worker in 2016, since then she has worked in a local authority children and families team. In Carolines current post, she is a team leader. In the past three years she has qualified as a practice educator and also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Child Welfare and Child Protection.
Caroline's key interests in social work: practice learning and development, child protection practice, pre birth with families, domestic abuse approaches, safeguarding children and young people. Caroline is passionate about social justice and anti poverty practice.
