Introducing Meryl Williams – BASW Cymru’s new Professional Officer

I have recently taken up the post of part-time Professional Officer with BASW Cymru. I am really excited about the prospect of getting to know BASW members and looking at ways that we can support you, as you continue to work in what is at times, a difficult and stressful role.

Just a little bit about me - I qualified as a social worker back in 1979 and have worked in many different areas in the intervening years. It was 40 years ago, last September, when I started my career in a Child and Family Team, in what was then West Glamorgan County Council. Most of my roles have been working in a Local Authority setting.  I’ve worked as a social worker, senior practitioner, team and service manager. Most of my professional career was spent in the City and County of Swansea but have also worked for the Isle of Wight Council and Carmarthenshire County Council. I have experience of working with adults with learning disabilities, adults with mental health challenges, children with disabilities, older adults and older adults with mental health difficulties. For a significant part of my career I was the safeguarding adults manager in the City and County of Swansea, from the time when we had policies and guidance around the protection of vulnerable adults. In addition, during part of this time, my family and I provided a home for three adults with learning disabilities under a family placement scheme. I currently lecture on a module in the first year of the social work degree with the Open University. I have enjoyed every role I’ve had and given my time over again, would choose social worker as a career.

Now, enough about me! I hope to be able to keep in touch with BASW members, in various ways in the future. I would love to hear from BASW members about how you feel BASW Cymru can support you in your role. I have some thoughts about how I could achieve this but am open to any suggestions that would help.

I would love to get out and meet current and prospective members in your work settings. It might be that I could attend a team meeting to share a bit about BASW Cymru and what we are involved in and the benefits of being part of a professional association.

 I am also hoping to begin Communities of Practice. Briefly, a community of practice is a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly. A bit like having peer support and space to reflect on your practice. So, please email me with your views on this and identify any areas that you would like to discuss in a community of practice setting.

Do get in touch to let me know what matters to you.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Diolch yn fawr,