16 Days of Action against gender-based violence

BASW supports the 16 Days campaign and is sharing a range of social work resources and content around the issue of gender-based violence

16 Days of Action against gender-based violence is an annual campaign that runs from 25 November to 10 December.

The 16 Days campaign is an important opportunity for people, organisations and communities to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the global 16 Days campaign, which was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. You can find out more via the UN Women website.

BASW supports the 16 Days campaign and is sharing a range of social work resources and content around the issue of gender-based violence:

Let's Talk Social Work podcast: 'Domestic Abuse' with Sarah McMillan, Rachael Barnes and Marsha Scott

In the first episode of 2021, host Andy McClenaghan is joined by Sarah McMillan, Professional Officer with the Scottish Association of Social Workers, Rachael Barnes who is a Social Worker with Safer Families Edinburgh and Dr Marsha Scott, Chief Executive of Scottish Women's Aid. They explore the issue of domestic abuse and the social work response to support victims and survivors of abuse, as well as the role social workers play in working with perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Webinar: Introduction to the Safe & Together™ Model

In this webinar Sarah McMillan, Professional Officer at SASW provides an overview of the foundational concepts of the Safe & Together Model™ and how it can be used as a way to enhance good practice with survivors of domestic abuse. A social worker since 2000, Sarah has worked extensively with children and families, both in practice team settings and as a Cedar Project Coordinator, supporting women and children who have experienced domestic abuse. Sarah is a Safe and Together Model™ trainer and is keen to help expand the model to social workers across the UK. 

BASW England Domestic Abuse Guidance for Social Workers

Released in April 2021, this guide was developed in collaboration with valued stakeholders including Women’s Aid, Galop, Southall Black Sisters, Sign Health, Karma Nirvana, Respect, AVA, Ann Craft Trust, Dr Michaela Rogers at the University of Sheffield, as well as people with lived experience and BASW members.

'Gender-based violence: Enough is enough'

A powerful blog on the issue of gender-based violence and misogyny, written in March 2021 by BASW England Professional Officer Rebekah Pierre.

"As social workers, we must do better, not only to protect our female-majority workforce, but also to champion the rights of the women and girls we support."

SASW Domestic Abuse and Child Welfare: A Practice Guide for Social Workers (April 2020)

Join Sarah McMillan, Professional Officer at SASW along with Susie Dalton, Children and Young People's Policy Officer at Scottish Women's Aid, Anna Mitchell, UK Lead at the Safe & Together Institute and Rachael Barnes, Social Worker at Safer Families Edinburgh for a webinar centred around social work practice where there is domestic abuse.

Resource: Substance use and Domestic Abuse: Essential information for social workers

Published February 2020 

Webinar: 'The Invisible Victims'

This webinar featured two presentations: Jahnine Davis on Complex Locations;  and Jade Levell on Understanding how children experience childhood domestic violence/abuse and gang-involvement, using music as an interview tool.

Jahnine's primary research on Black children's experiences of telling and disclosing child sexual abuse will be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. Her MA in Woman and Child Abuse studies concluded with a small qualitative study 'Where are the Black Girls?', highlighting why little is known about experiences of child sexual abuse in Black African-Caribbean communities.

Jade's The Road Home Study: Exploring the Intersection of on-road/Gang involvement and Childhood Exposure to Domestic Violence/Abuse focused on the lives of young men who have experienced domestic violence and abuse (DVA) in childhood and became gang-involved.  LIfe-history interviews were taken using music as an elicitation tool (desert island discs style).  Several findings from this study are applicable to front-line practice, including an increased understanding of how boys experience DVA in childhood, as well as how their sense of masculine identity changes in light of life with both DVA and gangs.

Learning from History: Domestic Abuse in the Post-War Period 

This webinar was part of the SASW Conference 2021.  Chaired by Sarah McMillan, Professional Officer, Scottish Association of Social Work, this was a discussion and reflection on women’s experience of domestic abuse in Scotland and how society has responded to this, both in the past and in present time. Looking at Dr Anni Donaldson's research findings from post-war up to the early 1990’s then considering continuity and change up to present day with inputs from Detective Chief Superintendent Sam McCluskey and Catriona Grant, a social work practitioner.