'Change doesn't have to be scary'
Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 17 October, 2022
1. Ghost in the machine
Working in social work today is like being on the waltzers at the fairground. Both are discombobulating and sometimes nauseating. Change is going to happen: ride the wave, because in two years, with a new director and another transformation plan, history will undoubtably repeat itself. I recently told a group of residential staff that it is our duty (like our departed Queen) to impress upon our sphere of influence the best we can, with the tools we have, with the levers at our disposal, that good social work practice is about adapting and reacting to change quickly and skilfully. If we don’t, our services go the way of the Dodo!
2. Screaming banshees
“Heard but not listening", is what a social work manager said to me recently when I asked her if people in my role communicated well. I can’t emphasise enough that communicating in times of change or transformation is key. Transparency allows honesty, which in turn produces respect. Use all means of social media and written media to communicate your plan for the future clearly, both in the short-term and longer term. This goes for working with clients too. If the team changes, your work pattern changes, or service level agreements change, let people know well in advance so there’s no surprises. No surprises means less suspicion. Less suspicion means less conflict,
3. Dipping witches
During change periods, scapegoats, (usually interims and those who have left or are leaving) are targeted, and phases like, “It was them that did it”, or “I am just new so I don’t know” are uttered. Neither builds respect. You need to be taking ownership as a social worker or manager, You might worry that you will be seen as incompetent or lose your job. But On the contrary during change periods managers are more likely to cut some slack and see a future leader in you for your honesty. Therefore, innovate in your job, don’t stagnate, be honest and stop “dipping witches”.
4. Pumpkin pickers
Changing anything in social care is difficult. Even more so if you don’t have the buy in from staff. Transformation and change projects should be co-produced with service users and carers. But It is no good having fancy pants electronic whiteboards, phone apps and social media change platforms if no one can use them or understand them or have not been trained to use them.
5. Invisible man
Invisible staff don’t help change. I saw a post on LinkedIn by a social worker recently who asked: “Do remote working only posts exist in social work?" We need NQSW and current social workers to get back in the office. A social work said to me this week: “Oh, look you’re a real person,” meaning I was one of few interims to be physically present.
Thorough communication about the future, the vision, and developmental work gets lost when meeting virtually. You can’t judge the acceptance of change without sitting in a room with someone and seeing the whites of their eyes. The Paris accord or the good Friday agreement could never have been achieved via Zoom.
Alasdair Kennedy is an interim social work manager and runs the popular Sociable Social Worker YouTube channel