'Doyenne' of social work Joan Baraclough dies, aged 90
Joan Baraclough, one of the founding members of BASW, has died, just days before her 91st birthday.
Joan was a well-known and respected social work leader, having held a number of roles within BASW, including being one of its first assistant general secretaries in 1971, a year after the association was created.
She also served as the first secretary of the Social Workers’ Education Trust, assistant general secretary of the Social Workers’ Benevolent Trust (SWBT) and was a founding member of the Social Work History Network (SWHN).
She had a number of leadership roles beyond BASW and was a respected social work academic.
Described as a “doyenne of social work”, tributes were paid to Joan from across the social work world.
BASW chief executive Ruth Allen said she would be greatly missed within BASW the community, adding: "She represents the cadre of social workers who created our modern profession as well as BASW and we will continue to celebrate and appreciate her contribution through our heritage and archival work, drawing inspiration from dedicated social workers and leaders like Joan."
David Jones, co-founder of SWHN along with Joan and Keith Bilton, said: “Joan was a generous and thoughtful person, exemplifying the qualities of a professional social worker, always warm and encouraging to others and never standing on ceremony.
“In a creative partnership with her good friend, Kay Richards, she was a committed social worker to the end, working to improve relationships to create a better world. Her generosity and thoughtfulness will be much missed.”
Ruth Stark, former president of the International Federation of Social Workers and past manager of the Scottish Association of Social Work, said: “Joan was an ardent BASW member and a formidable influence on the profession. She became for many of us a knowledgeable elder in the profession, full of wisdom. She leaves a huge legacy to us all to cherish and take forward.”
Emeritus professor of social work Ray Jones described Joan as a “champion of social work and social workers” who played a significant part in the creation of BASW.
He added: “With an extensive experience from a long professional career, she was generous with her insights and wisdom. I enjoyed and learnt much from our conversations together, and especially about the contribution social work values, knowledge and perspectives can make within hospitals and health services.”
Gabriella Zavoli, who worked with Joan on BASW’s 50th anniversary and heritage project, described Joan as a “kind, generous and supportive”.
She added: “I feel very lucky to have known such an inspirational woman. Like so many of her friends and colleagues I feel such a loss at her passing but will forever be positively impacted by the time I spent with her.”
Long-term friend Serge Paul said: “Joan was never averse to making it clear when something, to her mind, was wrong or contrary to the best interests of service users. She had that sense of considered reflection that was so effective.
“Rest in peace Joan, we all owe you our love and respect.”
Julian Levitt, a past co-chair of SWBT, said Joan was a “trailblazer” in the formulation and development of the trust which provides financial assistance to struggling social workers, adding: “The trust owes her a considerable debt for all her early input.”
Joan was born in Edinburgh in 1934, the city where she went on to qualify in medical social work at Edinburgh University in 1960. After school, she went to live in southern Ireland, working as a GP receptionist. She returned to England to work at the Birmingham Eye Hospital as an almoner’s clerk where she was encouraged to apply for social work training.
In a blog on Edinburgh University’s website, Joan said illness within the family played a large part in her life and no doubt contributed to her chosen career.
Her first job after qualifying in social work was at King Edward’s Hospital in Ealing, London, before moving to Westminster Hospital where she rose to deputy head of department. While there, she was seconded to the Tavistock Clinic.
It was through her post as secretary of the Institute of Medical Social Workers' Professional Practice Committee that she became centrally involved in discussions that led to the creation of BASW in 1970.
Reminiscing about this time in the Edinburgh University article, Joan said: “The 1960s was a very lively time – we had great hopes of the world being different.”
Between 1984 and her retirement in 1994, Joan was assistant chief inspector of the Social Services Inspectorate, a precursor of the Care Quality Commission. In this role she advised the Department of Health on social work with older people and people with disabilities.
John Cypher, who worked with her at this time, said: "As a champion of health-related social work, whether in developing its policy, practice or educational dimensions, Joan was an incredibly good person with whom to work. Friendly always and in discussion challenging, when necessary.
"I recall the good conversations, the gains to me from Joan’s breadth of professional insights and wisdom, and her own enduring commitment to social work."
In 2000, Joan was part of an informal network of social workers and others who created SWHN at King’s College London. Last year SWHN recognised her as ‘founder emeritus’ for this role along her wider contribution to social work.
In retirement, she continued to be active, completing a Masters in the history of social work medicine and was involved in preserving archives of BASW’s predecessor organisations at the University of Warwick.
Speaking for many, SWHN member Joan Rapaport described Joan as a supportive friend and peer who was "always ready to share her extensive experiences and wisdom", adding: "She was a doyenne of social work.”
Joan passed away on Christmas eve, less than a month before her birthday on 19 January.
Her funeral will take place on Thursday, 23 January at 11.30am, at St John's Church, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertforshire, AL8 7TR. Guests are requested to park in the Village Hall car park which is a two minute walk from the church (postcode is AL8 7TT.)
The family have requested a donation to Cancer Research UK in her name instead of flowers.
