BASW Response to Covid-19 Inquiry Module Six Report
BASW Interim CEO, Professor Sam BaronWe were abundantly clear that the absence of specific statutory guidance for Social Workers that reflected the different statutory contexts across the four nations was a major oversight from all national governments.
BASW supports the recommendations made by the Covid Inquiry following its investigation into the Adult Social Care sector. Improved protective measures for staff and maintaining regulatory oversight of care quality and safety are particularly welcome. Both were key points that we conveyed and pressed for in our evidence.
That said, we are deeply disappointed and perplexed that the report makes scant reference to the experiences of Social Workers during the pandemic and the impact that a profound lack of guidance, resources and support had on them specifically.
Social Workers went above and beyond throughout the Covid pandemic to safeguard and advocate for individuals in communities across the UK at a desperately vulnerable and anxious time. Given the bulk of evidence that we and our members submitted on this module, particular recognition of the challenges our profession faced, especially in relation to the serious risks to staff welfare and wellbeing, and of the critical role of Social Work in emergencies, should have at least been recognised.
We were also abundantly clear during this module that the absence of specific statutory guidance for Social Workers that reflected the different statutory contexts across the four nations was a major oversight from all national governments. Clear, adequate and timely guidance would have been fundamental for not only protecting Social Workers and their families but also ensuring that they felt confident and assured in their practice.
We used our platform to call for this to be rectified for future preparedness, given the unique requirements of Social Workers in disasters, and we will continue to do so. It is therefore frustrating that today’s report has not addressed our very fair ask.
BASW was proud to unapologetically champion the profession and the incredible work that practitioners did in our evidence to the Inquiry. We reiterate our sincere gratitude to all Social Workers for their invaluable efforts during such an unprecedented and uncertain crisis. We now eagerly await the publication of the report into module eight, which we also secured core participant status for, in relation to children and young people and hope that our recommendations will be given a fair hearing in this report.
