BASW responds to Panorama investigation
Last night’s Panorama expose of violent and abusive practices by staff on adults with learning difficulties and autistic adults at Whorlton Hall in County Durham was shocking and horrific.
The scenes amounted to a systematic violation of vulnerable patients’ human rights, while the alleged extent of abuse at the specialist hospital calls into question the rigour of regulatory inspection and reignites the debate on how we end the institutionalisation of people needing long term, specialist support.
Following an equally terrible scandal at the Castlebeck private hospital, Winterbourne View in Bristol 2011 this latest expose shows that this is a UK wide issue. Echoing the abuse at Whorlton Hall, the investigation into Winterbourne View led to five out of 11 care workers jailed, and a damning report of the owners – Castlebeck – for taking "financial reward without the responsibility".
Social care, social work, regulatory bodies and commissioners must work together to stop these violations of human rights.
It is BASW’s position that people with complex needs will continue to be at risk in mismanaged and poorly staffed institutions until personalised alternatives are commissioned and provided within communities.
As the professional association of social workers, we champion an ethics focused approach which puts the human rights of services users at the core of services delivered.
We will be collectively advocating for political, policy and practice reform.
In work commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, BASW England are currently developing Capabilities Statements for Social Work with Adults who have Learning Disabilities and separately Social Work with Autistic Adults.
A key message from the consultation has highlighted the role of social workers in identifying human rights violations, addressing abuse and neglect and striving for social justice.
The role of relationship based social work practice is fundamental in preventing crisis situations and supporting a move away from institutions to properly managed, person centred community-based provision.