'Now is the time to stand up for social work' - BASW chair blog

I am proud and honoured to be the new chair of BASW. In recent years, Gerry Nosowska and preceding chairs have given huge amounts of their time and expertise to lead and develop BASW, the independent voice of social work in the UK.

Each has made a great contribution across a range of vital issues, including working conditions, developing a human rights-based approach to social work, anti-poverty, anti-austerity campaigning, equality, diversity and inclusion, responding to the challenges of Covid-19, developing a vision for social work post-pandemic, and harnessing the power of lived experience.

I am acutely aware that I’m standing on the shoulders of these contributions, as I take up the role of chair. With the essential support of chief executive Ruth Allen and all BASW staff, and members in many key roles in the association, my task is to build on this progress and ensure BASW’s 2025 vision becomes a reality.

My experience in social work

I have been a member of BASW since I first became a social worker - that’s over 50 years now, almost my whole working lifetime.

For me, being part of social work’s professional association was a no brainer. BASW offers members opportunities to shape its direction and priorities, ultimately improving the experiences of both social workers on the frontline and the people and communities we work with.

I was very proud of having retrained in social work, after a four-year career in nursing. I knew I would learn a lot of new skills and understanding - but I was still surprised at how challenging being a social worker was and what an impact it would have on me.

Shifting from being a nurse who largely did things to people, I became a social worker who did things with people. As such, I very much welcome the shifts in BASW; towards being ever more inclusive, especially in terms of welcoming people with a lived and living experience into the heart of our activities and vision for the future of social work.

Now is the time to stand up for social work

We have an excellent foundation to build a better and bigger BASW, fit for the future. The next few years may well be as challenging as the previous ones, but together we will move forward and forge new alliances.

Over the next two years, I have set myself four objectives. 

Building membership

First, I want to encourage all members to work with me in their workplace and at their universities, to urge other social workers and students to join our professional association.

Indeed, this is the way forward for us as a professional association, and one of my main objectives – to increase the strength of our profession, by doubling our membership over the next few years. I cannot do it alone and neither can BASW. This is a challenge to all social workers. Now is the time to stand up for social work.

Building a better society

At this crucial time for millions of people across the UK, professional bodies like BASW must play an active role in advocating for a fairer, more equitable society.

My second objective is around tackling and focussing on poverty which is growing at a rapid and alarming rate right across the UK, in many cases making life increasingly challenging for the people we work with and indeed, most of the communities in which we work.

Many social workers know first-hand – through work or lived experience – the effects of poverty on health, wellbeing, social cohesion and more. Therefore BASW, as the professional association for social work, must make its voice louder as we campaign against policies and structures that are driving its rise in our society.

Broadening BASW’s impact and reach

To stand up for social workers and a better society, it’s imperative that we make our voice louder, reaching wider audiences who share our focus on issues such as poverty and equality, diversity and inclusion.

This will encompass working closely with partners, social work employers, local authorities, the voluntary sector and others. This is my third objective.  It’s an ambitious target – but I’m relishing the opportunity to boost our voice and reach so that we are speaking to audiences that share our values.

Enhancing the professional status of social workers across the UK

My fourth objective is to further enhance the professionalisation of social workers. I was fortunate enough back in the 1970s and 1980s to have an abundance of post-qualifying experience and training, manageable caseloads, and excellent supervision.

There are many ways in which we can do this – for example developing our good practice frameworks and continuing to offer a broad, diverse range of CPD opportunities. I’m also passionate about building alliances with other professional bodies, alongside putting extra focus on our activity and research with universities.

I believe that the time is right now there is a better understanding of emotional intelligence, mindfulness, health and wellbeing, and communities of people being able to help themselves differently. 

Creating a better climate for social work practice

I think the world has changed and I am optimistic that it will continue to change. The pandemic of the last two years has helped in this, helping people rediscover the importance of community and how helping each other is the only way forward.

I strongly believe by working together and everyone playing their part, we can create a better climate for social work practice, for social workers and for the children and people who use our services.  

So, my challenge to you is to join me, Neeta Baicher, our new vice-chair, and Ann Moir, our honorary treasurer, get more involved in whatever way you can to build BASW's - and social work's - impact in this most difficult of times. 

I very much look forward to working with you over the next two years.