BASW General Election Blog: Continuity of Care & Support
BASW has strongly opposed proposals from the Department for Education to remove the requirement for social workers to carry out child in need assessment. Transferring child in need cases to non-social workers may undermine the quality of practice and increase risks to children.
Our General Election manifesto is therefore highlighting this issue to political parties and candidates, calling on the next UK Government to instead commit to ensuring continuity of care and support for those who need it. Social work is a devolved matter, so this ask refers specifically to social work in England, which is the responsibility of the elected government at Westminster.
The below extract, from Free Loaves on Fridays, an anthology containing the voices of 100 children and adults from care, illustrates the impact that good, relationship based social work can have. The legacy left by Gail, Chantelle’s social worker, was possible due to her commitment to relationships, which can only flourished when social workers are provided with the necessary time and space (underscored by funding and cross-party political ambition for change) to do so.
‘From Addiction to Adoption: Care through the Eyes of a Child’– by Chantelle Billson
Before I was adopted at the age of nine, I put a handwritten prayer into the ‘prayer box’ at school, asking God to find me a forever family who would love me unconditionally. Every night after posting it, I stayed up late praying for the same fortune. In my heart I believed it would come true. Two weeks later, after years of failed prayers for my birth parents to get better and take me back, Gail, my social worker at the time (one of many) – a kind woman with a caring, patient and motherly spirit – informed me that my prayer had been answered.
Gail was the shining light during my time in care – a rarity, someone with whom I always felt safe. And so, before ever meeting my adopted parents, Gill and Bill, I knew I would be in safe hands with them, too.
I could scarcely believe my luck when Gail handed me a folder, which Gill and Bill had made by hand to show us a bit about themselves and where we would be moving. It outlined all of the naughty adventures that our new dog-to-be, Misty – a large grey Weimaraner – would get up to in their pristine garden. I flicked through it with excitement and awe, asking would this really be my life too?
Shortly after, on 17 October 2005, we first moved into our new home in Bicester. A three-bed house with a large kitchen, lounge, dining room and conservatory. Finally, a house that we could call our home. I have wonderful memories of times spent playing with our family dog Misty and Dad on the lounge floor.
For the first time ever, I had my own room, and my own built-in wardrobe, with brand new clothes already lining the shelves. Having my own space and wardrobe gave me a feeling of euphoria that to this day I will never forget. Prior to being adopted I had always had hand-me-downs. But now I felt like finally I was my own person, and was allowed and encouraged to have my own identity. Here I could be whoever I wanted to be.
Bill and Gill did all the little things parents are supposed to do, and much more. They read bedtime stories, soothed through all my stresses, taught me how to plait my hair and allowed me to enjoy my childhood. They took me horse-riding, and to saxophone lessons. With them I was able to enjoy just being young – no longer a young carer, but a child worthy of being cared for.
