I’ve been a social worker in Jamaica and the UK and here’s the difference

Social work is both a global and local profession. It carries a shared commitment to human rights, equality, and social justice values that transcend geography but find their expression in the daily realities of practice. 
As someone who has worked in both Jamaica and the United Kingdom, I have witnessed how the same ethical principles can look very different depending on culture, resources, and societal structures.

In offering a reflective comparison between adult social work practice in Jamaica and the UK, I draw on both research and personal experience. The aim is not to judge which system is superior, but to explore how context, culture, and history shape the profession and what we can learn from each other.

Historical and structural context

The roots of social work in the UK stretch back to the late 19th century with the Charity Organisation Society and the Settlement House Movement, which sought to address poverty through moral guidance and community action. 
Following the creation of the welfare state after World War II, social work became embedded in statutory services, evolving into a highly regulated, professionalised system guided by legislation such as the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

In Jamaica, social work developed later, influenced by colonial social policy and missionary work in the early 20th century. After independence in the 1960s, the government formalised the profession through training programmes and the creation of agencies such as the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA). Practice in Jamaica remains deeply community-centred, often blending professional expertise with informal support networks.

Both systems share a focus on protection and empowerment, but their structures differ. The UK model is highly bureaucratic and well-funded, designed around accountability and consistency. The Jamaican model, by contrast, operates with limited resources and a stronger reliance on community resilience and relational care. Each approach reflects its social context one structured by state welfare, the other sustained by communal solidarity.

Culture, community and the role of relationships

Culture shapes every aspect of social work. In the UK, practitioners often navigate a multicultural environment where individual rights, autonomy, and procedural fairness take precedence. Interventions are framed within statutory expectations and detailed recording systems. These structures ensure transparency and safeguard service users, but they can also make practice feel detached and overly process-driven.

By contrast, Jamaican social work thrives on personal connection. Extended family networks, faith communities, and neighbourhood relationships often form the first line of support. 
Social workers engage deeply with these informal systems, using empathy, trust, and cultural understanding to mobilise care in the absence of extensive state resources. Spirituality, respect for elders, and community identity strongly influence decision-making and recovery.

Having practised in both systems, I have learned that neither approach is complete on its own. The UK’s procedural strength can sometimes limit creativity and warmth, while Jamaica’s relational depth can struggle without sufficient structure and regulation. The most effective practice lies somewhere in between, combining professional rigour with compassion and cultural humility.

Practice, legislation, and mental health

Working in adult mental health in the UK has given me a deep appreciation for the power of structure. Legislation such as the Care Act 2014 and the Mental Health Act 1983/2007 provides a clear legal foundation for assessment, safeguarding, and intervention. Practitioners are supported by multidisciplinary teams – psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers – ensuring holistic, person-centred care.

However, with structure comes complexity. Caseloads are high, procedures are intricate, and the emotional weight of safeguarding decisions can be heavy. The focus on compliance, documentation, and performance can overshadow the relational aspects that first drew many of us to the profession.

In Jamaica, mental health practice faces different challenges. Persistent stigma, limited psychiatric infrastructure, and social barriers mean that many people do not seek help until crises occur. Yet communities often rally around individuals in distress, drawing on faith, family, and informal peer support. Community-based education and advocacy programmes are increasingly working to reduce stigma and promote early intervention.

Each system holds lessons for the other. Jamaica demonstrates the importance of cultural grounding and community engagement in recovery, while the UK illustrates how rights-based legislation and multidisciplinary collaboration can safeguard and empower service users. When combined, these perspectives offer a more holistic vision of mental health practice that values both structure and humanity.

Education, training, and professional identity

Professional identity is shaped not only by values but also by education and regulation. In the UK, social workers must hold a recognised degree and be registered with a regulator. Continuing professional development (CPD) is mandatory, ensuring that practitioners remain accountable, reflective, and skilled in evolving practice environments.

In Jamaica, social work education is primarily delivered through the University of the West Indies and similar institutions. Degrees combine theory with practical field placements, fostering strong ethical and community-focused foundations. While formal CPD structures are less established, professional development often occurs through mentorship, church-based initiatives, and collaboration with non-governmental organisations.

Both systems produce passionate practitioners committed to human rights and empowerment. Yet, as international mobility increases, there is value in harmonising training and professional standards to facilitate collaboration. Cross-border learning can help Jamaican social workers strengthen regulatory frameworks while encouraging UK practitioners to embrace culturally responsive, community-centred practice.

Shared challenges and opportunities

Despite their differences, social workers in both countries face similar pressures: heavy caseloads, emotional fatigue, public misunderstanding, and the struggle to balance compassion with bureaucracy. In the UK, the challenge lies in maintaining relational practice within a risk-averse system. In Jamaica, it lies in delivering consistent services despite resource shortages.

However, there are opportunities within these challenges. Jamaican practitioners display remarkable innovation and resilience, finding creative ways to meet need with minimal funding. UK practitioners benefit from clear guidance, supervision, and access to multidisciplinary networks that promote accountability and reflective learning. Both contexts call for stronger advocacy, not only for service users but for the profession itself.

As social workers, our greatest strength lies in our adaptability. Whether operating in a rural Jamaican parish or a busy UK local authority, we draw on the same values of respect, dignity, and empowerment. The path may differ, but the purpose remains shared.

Reflections and learning across borders

Looking back on my journey across these two worlds of practice, I am struck by how much each has shaped my professional identity. In Jamaica, I learned the value of faith, family, and collective care. In the UK, I discovered the necessity of structure, evidence, and accountability. Together, these lessons form a holistic understanding of what effective social work can be.

There is no single “correct” model of social work. What works in one country may not work in another, because social work lives within its culture. Yet the profession’s moral foundation – the pursuit of justice, equality, and human dignity – remains constant. Comparative reflection helps us see beyond national systems and focus on what unites us: our shared humanity and our commitment to improving lives.

As Healy and Thomas (2020) suggest, international dialogue enriches the profession by allowing practitioners to reflect on how context influences ethics and outcomes. Through exchange, mentorship, and cross-cultural collaboration, we strengthen not only our practice but also our empathy.

The future of social work depends on global solidarity. By learning from one another, whether through formal partnerships, overseas placements, or simply sharing stories, we ensure that no community’s wisdom is lost. Jamaica’s warmth and resilience, and the UK’s structure and protection, both have something profound to offer the world of social care.

Social work across borders is not just about comparing systems it is about understanding people. The profession thrives when it values both diversity and unity, both structure and spirit. My experience across Jamaica and the United Kingdom has shown me that effective practice requires cultural humility, critical reflection, and above all, compassion.

In every context, social work is an act of courage, a commitment to stand beside those society often overlooks. Whether guided by community wisdom or statutory policy, our task remains the same: to empower, to protect, and to uphold the dignity of every individual we serve.

Patricia Cunningham is an adult mental health social worker with Cumberland Council and previously worked with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency in Jamaica. She is passionate about cross-cultural practice, human rights, and strengthening international understanding in social work