SASW meets with Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs

Last week, SASW National Director Alison Bavidge met with Angela Constance, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs to discuss key issues affecting the social work workforce.

Ms Constance was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs in March 2023. The Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser and Justice Social Work, as well as several other areas of relevance to the profession. 

Discussions centred on social work workforce issues, including the deterioration of working conditions in recent years and the urgent need to address the recruitment and retention crisis. Evidence that 50% of social workers describe their current caseload as "not at all manageable" and 1 in 4 social workers leave the profession within the first 6 years of practice was highlighted, as well as the impact demand for services has on assessment times and availability of care and support for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities.

The topic of the National Care Service (NCS) arose, with Alison highlighting the negative impact further separation of the social work profession will have, as well as the potential benefits of a National Social Work Agency. The need to keep pursuing diversity and the anti-racism agenda was also raised.

Alison reinforced SASW's commitment to working with the Scottish Government to find solutions. 

Our thanks to Ms Constance for taking the time to meet with us and for her support for the profession, we look forward to working together to address these issues in the future.