NIASW World Social Work Day: “Let us celebrate our diversity but let us not be divided”

The statistics on social work in Northern Ireland show its scope and diversity, an issue that is often underestimated, said Fionnuala McAndrew, Director of Social Care and Children at the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) in her welcome to delegates at NIASW’s World Social Work Day celebration in Belfast.

With a workforce of over 5000 social workers, in 2013, 38,000 children were referred to social services, 57,000 adults were referred for assessments, and 40,000 older people and 28,000 adults with disabilities were receiving services in Northern Ireland in 2013.

“It’s important that the social work leadership in Northern Ireland steps up and fulfils their commitments that have been outlined in the social work strategy”, Ms McAndrew said.

“These range from improving the profile of social work, increasing the capacity of the workforce, improving social work services and build leadership and trust in social work”.

Picking up on the conference theme of ‘social work in a divided society’, BASW Chief Executive Bridget Robb commented that "social work itself divides society. Do we censure or celebrate? The public can be ambivalent about what we do. We know the amazing work that goes on.”

“We can also be good at dividing ourselves off, saying ‘I’m a children’s social worker, I’m a mental health social worker’.

“Other professions can also be good at criticising social workers, we need to stand up and say ‘that is outrageous, you will not treat us like that.”

Referring to issue of freedom of movement for social workers to practice within the UK, Ms Robb expressed frustration that regulation is creating more barriers within social work. “Whatever our differences, let us celebrate our diversity but let us not be divided, we are much stronger together”, Ms Robb said.