High quality and person-centred advance care planning (ACP) is a vital means of promoting personal dignity at the end of life

“BASW believes that high quality and person-centred advance care planning (ACP) is a vital means of promoting personal dignity at the end of life.  Social workers have a key role to play in promoting good practice in ACP.  But each decision must be based on the circumstances of the individual

“BASW therefore notes with great concern the recent press reports of misuse of ACP and of Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) notices being issued inappropriately.  

“BASW endorses the recent statement on advance care planning from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and other bodies, which clarifies the proper use of advanced care planning/DNACPR and confirms that these should never be undertaken on a ‘blanket’ basis.

“BASW urges its members to raise any concerns about ACP/DNACPR through the appropriate local safeguarding process.  BASW/SWU Advice and Representation (A&R) team is available to support BASW members in any such situation.

“Basw is also working on guidance for hospital based social work and end of life social work during Covid-19 which we hope will be relevant too.”