BASW Chair blog: Gerry Nosowska
New Year is a time of reflection and of looking to the future. In social work it can seem like the same old challenges persist. But I want to offer some real hope for 2019, arising from the work that social workers are doing for social justice.
At the end of last year, I met with newly qualified social workers in Devon. I asked them why they wanted to be social workers and they all spoke about social justice – wanting to improve lives, share power and make the world better.
It was so heartening to hear the motivation of these social workers as a new year was about to start.
Social work is still misunderstood and under-resourced…
…but BASW members and staff are running a host of events to help us offer good help to people. We are developing standards for practice alongside people with lived experience. And we are pushing for policy that upholds our ethics and expertise across the UK.
World Social Work Day this year is about relationships. As the UK professional body, BASW will join associations across the world to celebrate and share the relationships we build and the impact they have, and will hold awards ceremonies in Scotland and Wales.
Social workers still struggle with working conditions and stress…
…but BASW’s expert Advice and Representation service helps social workers who are struggling. Through the Benevolent Fund, our members support peers who face hardship. Social Workers Union membership continues to grow. Our branches, groups and committees enable members to come together to discuss and support one another.
Our Working Conditions campaign has raised politician’s awareness of the need to support social workers. We are working with employers to develop and embed a toolkit to improve working conditions.
People in our society still experience injustice and poverty…
…but BASW raised over £700 for homeless shelters from our e-Christmas card. Our members and staff are sharing expertise on how to support people who are marginalised across the UK, for example guidance from our Asylum Immigration Trafficking Special Interest Group on no recourse to public funds. We are embedding our Service User and Carer involvement strategy to work alongside people with lived experience.
Our Anti-poverty campaign includes developing an anti-poverty practice guide and fighting the Universal Credit two-child cap.
BASW members experience great challenges. But we know that we are contributing to social justice every day, by standing up for ethical social work practice, supporting social workers and combatting injustice.
And we are taking a lead through convening and supporting a UK Standing Conference each year that addresses the big challenges we face.
The world is better for the work that you do. Thank you and let’s keep hopeful in 2019.