Northern Ireland report - June 2014

NIASW launches a Blueprint for Change: NIASW were very proud to launch the long awaited Blueprint for Change in Adult Social Services Social Work in Northern Ireland at Parliament Buildings on 12 May. The report is the culmination of almost a year’s work from the initial survey through consultation and final publication. We were very pleased that Maeve McLaughlin Chair of the Health and Social Services Committee hosted the event and that Edwin Poots, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, attended to hear the voice of the profession. Your message was clear that change is needed and we will actively campaign for that change on your behalf. The NIASW team would be happy to come and share our findings with you, so please get in touch with Carolyn or Anne on 02890 648873 to arrange a visit.

Meet your Committee: NIASW also hosted the Annual Members meetings on the 12 May at Belfast Castle and four new members of committee were agreed. They are:

Marcella Leonard

Kerry McVeigh

Julia Gibson

Jennie Rice

We look forward to welcoming then onto committee.

Look out for a NIASW feature called Meet your Committee on the website next month, this will provide some more information about all of the committee members who work so hard on your behalf.

Voice of Social work Groups: Also look out for information about our new “Voice of Social Work Groups” which we are setting up in your area. These will be for NIASW members only and will be operate across programmes of care. They will provide a space to talk about and debate the key issues for the profession and will directly inform the work of NIASW.

Anne attended the first meeting of the newly established Professional in Practice (PiP) task and finish group last month. The idea is that the group will be time limited and focused on the implementation of the new PiP framework in a way that meets the needs of social workers and their employers.

The Social Work Strategy: The work of the strategy continues a pace and the agreed Implementation Plan can be accessed by clicking here.

There are seven work streams and NIASW has been asked to provide representation on four at this stage. These are:

1.     First Line Managers – Chaired by SHSCT, NIASW rep to be appointed

2.     Workload Management – Chaired by NHSCT, NIASW rep Paula McFadden

3.     Job Rotation – Chaired by WHSCT

4.     Extended Hours/flexible working – Chaired by SEHSCT

5.     Reduction of Paperwork/ Bureaucracy – Chaired by ADSS

6.     Promoting Leadership – Chaired by NISCC, NIASW rep Carolyn Ewart

7.     Review of Older people’s Services- Chaired by BHSCT, NIASW rep Margaret Dunne

NIASW will be advocating to have representatives on all groups to ensure that your voice is central to the process.