BASW continues to raise the urgent issues with social work leaders and provides an update on action so far

Updated 27 March 2020

This week BASW met with social work leaders from Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), Department for Education (DfE) and Social Work England to raise the issues and challenges that social workers are experiencing based on the feedback of over 1300 social workers who took part in the BASW survey of social work during the pandemic, including:

  • Safety and lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as hand sanitisers which is leaving social workers concerned for clients safety and their own safety
  • The need for guidance that would bring about consistency in the workplace
  • Clarity on how social workers can deliver on their statutory duties to support vulnerable people during the pandemic
  • Guidance for students who are on placements to give reassurance on protecting career pathways into social work
  • We asked that Ministers where possible to directly reference social work and social worker in their public addresses alongside colleagues in health and social care

There is clear commitment from social work leaders to support the workforce and work is underway to tackle the issues.  We are pleased share that progress has been made across the following areas:

There is a commitment to support social workers during the pandemic and to join up our communications to ensure resources and information are easy to access.

Around the UK

BASW teams continue  to raise the issues with social work and policy leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  See our updates from around the UK:

BASW will continue to raise the issues and provide ongoing updates on progress made for social workers.