Press release from SASW as One Deal Campaign reaches 1000 supporters

Our campaign for fair terms and conditions has reached a milestone as over 1000 supporters sign petition

Press Release                                                                                                                 24/10/2024

Immediate release

Social work association’s calls for fair terms and conditions reaches milestone 1000 supporters

Nearly one year ago, SASW launched a campaign for national terms and conditions for social workers in Scotland. 

This campaign was immediately supported by the Social Workers Union (SWU) in December 2023 and has continued to gather momentum, and signatures to our petition. The asks of this campaign are essential if we are to tackle the issues that threaten the existence of social work as we know it in Scotland.

SASW is calling for a national approach to pay and conditions which must include:

  1. A dedicated local government job family for pay and conditions for social work.
  2. A consistent framework for pay that allows for rural weightings and short-term initiatives in areas that are hard to recruit to.
  3. Pay recognition/pay enhancements for additional qualifications and responsibilities.
  4. A national maximum caseload with the expectation that cases are equally split between early support/standard/complex.
  5. A reduction in administrative burden to enable social workers to spend more time with people.
  6. Reflective supervision from a qualified social worker every 6 weeks as a minimum, distinct from case supervision provided by a line manager.
  7. At least 5 days/35hrs formal training each year.
  8. Flexible working that meets the needs of social workers and our communities.
  9. Paid overtime if social workers need to do more than their contracted hours, in order to keep people safe.

John McGowan, SWU General Secretary, commented:

"SWU stands shoulder to shoulder with SASW in this vital campaign. Social workers and the people they support are suffering the growing consequences of poor investment in the profession. We've heard from members who are struggling with excessive and complex caseloads, the reality of unpaid overtime, burn out due to stressful working conditions, and not receiving necessary support such as reflective supervision. SWU was the first to back the One Deal for Social Work campaign and we urge the social work community to show their support by signing the petition."

George Hannah, SASW Senior Communications and Public Affairs Officer, commented:

“We are immensely grateful for the support of all those who have recognised the need for change for social workers over the last year. 

“Having the Social Workers Union’s support from the beginning was a massive boost for social work in Scotland. As the UK’s only specialised social work union, their backing shows how seriously these issues are impacting social workers.

“Our members are clear that these asks are key to building a more sustainable and fair future for social workers and the communities they support. We urge supporters from all walks of life to sign the petition.”

The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW), part of British Association of Social Workers (BASW) UK, is the largest professional association for social workers in Scotland. As part of BASW UK we are the independent professional association for social work with over 22,000 members UK-wide and around 1400 members in Scotland.