Committee members represent a diverse range of practice areas and understand the issues you face as a social worker as you work to improve the lives of the people you support.
The Committee meets four times a year to engage with the staff team, shape campaign activities and oversee delivery of BASW NI’s strategic work plan.
Members also work closely with the staff team throughout the year across our thematic groups and campaign workstreams.
The National Standing Committee is led by Chair, Professor Davy Hayes, and Vice-Chairs, Elaine Craig and Janine Gordon.
Professor Davy Hayes, BASW NI Committee Chair
Davy qualified as a Social Worker in 1988 and worked as both a practitioner and trainer in Family and Child Care services in North and West Belfast. He joined the staff of Queen's University Belfast in 2005 and is currently Professor of Child Protection and Safeguarding and Co-Director of the Centre for Child, Youth and Family Welfare in the School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work.
Davy completed his PhD in 2008 and his research interests are focused on service users’ experiences of the child protection and criminal justice systems, the involvement of family members in child protection and child welfare processes, and the practice and experiences of professionals who operate the child protection system.
As Chair of BASW NI Davy is committed to continuing the Association’s efforts to raise the profile of social work. Enhancing understanding—at political level, in the media and among the public—of the vital contribution social work makes to the lives of individuals, families and children across Northern Ireland, improving society for all of us, is core to Davy’s vision as Chair.
Elaine Craig, BASW NI Vice Chair
Elaine graduated from Queens University Belfast with a Diploma and Masters in Social Work in June 2000. She worked in the voluntary and statutory sector, supporting adults on probation/ bail or returning to the community, working with homeless people and in children’s services. Elaine has had involvement in the delivery of the NI Degree in Social Work Partnership as both a practice teacher and a board member.
Currently Elaine is a senior manager in the Education Authority with responsibility for Special Educational Needs Statutory Services across Northern Ireland—work which Elaine describes as challenging and demanding, but also rewarding. She works with many different professionals and disciplines and is keen to make sure she adheres to core social work values, putting service users at the heart of delivery. The education sector in Northern Ireland employs more than 200 social workers in a variety of services to children and young people and Elaine is a big advocate for this growing further, seeing first-hand the positive difference social workers in education make.
Elaine is proud to hold the position of Vice-Chair of BASW NI, representing social workers in Northern Ireland, advocating on their behalf and ensuring their voices are heard as they provide support and services to those in need of our help.
Janine Gordon, BASW NI Vice Chair
Janine graduated from Queens University Belfast with a Diploma and Masters in Social Work in June 2002. She has a range of experience working as a social worker and team manager in Mental Health, Physical Disability and Older Person’s services across residential, community and hospital settings.
Janine is currently a senior manager within Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, providing management and leadership to social work services in community, acute and intermediate care settings. She has a special interest in developing and transforming social work service models and quality improvement, alongside supporting and developing the knowledge and skills of social workers.
Janine is very proud to hold the position of Vice-Chair for BASW NI, alongside being a member of the BASW International Committee. Both of these roles enable promotion of social work as a profession and the advancement of equality and diversity, alongside influencing social work policy both locally and nationally.