Social Work Policy Panel newsletter April 2024

Agenda this month 

• Date for your diary: Next SWPP 28th May 12-1pm
• Notes from April’s meeting – Justice Social Work
• About the Social Work Policy Panel 

Decide what topics the SWPP covers by completing our survey here

Notes from April’s meeting: Justice Social Work - opportunities and challenges

We heard from Susan Thompson, Professional Justice Social Work Advisor to the Scottish Government, and from Sharon Stirrat, Justice Policy and Practice lead for Social Work Scotland. 

Sharon provided an overview of justice social work (JSW) and the constraints within which justice social workers do social work. 

Susan gave us a rundown of the research which will guide Scottish Ministers decision about whether justice social work is included in the National Care Service (NCS). 

Here are some key points from the presentation: 

• Funding is tight across social work. In JSW this can mean that the role is restricted to public protection and risk management rather than a balance between care, control, justice and relational social work 
• JSW is a small service which makes it less visible than others locally and nationally

The research (https://bit.ly/3U2NHUP) proposed that:

• Funding structures be reviewed
• Practice guidance be updated
• Data collection be streamlined
• JSWs should be fully involved in service development

Discussion points included:

• Similar challenges described to those faced in adult and children and families social work. It is important to address these collectively as well as within specialities.
• We are losing experienced social workers. We need innovative solutions to retain and share experience, included mentoring.
• Systemic concerns about finance can mean that without social work advice and guidance short term decisions can and do crowd out early intervention. This leads to more social care crises and increasing costs.
• Justice placements are invaluable for students
• Future career paths should offer the opportunity to build knowledge and expertise across social work specialisms

The SWPP partners are grateful to Sharon and Susan for the presentations and to our audience for the discussion. These contributions will be invaluable in the development of the NCS and the National Social Work Agency.

Our next Session

28th May 12 – 1.00pm

The National Care Service and Rural Social Work

We look forward to talking with you soon.

About the Social Work Policy Panel

All students, newly qualified and experienced social workers are welcome to come along to our events.

The panel is jointly run by the Scottish Association of Social Work, the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser, and Social Work Scotland. The panel’s objective is to connect frontline social workers with the organisations which develop and implement policy and practice for the profession.

The panel was created to bring frontline workers and policy makers together to address the issues affecting social work today. It is an opportunity to influence those policy makers and the future of social work with your experience and knowledge. 

As a social worker, we know you’re busy and facing lots of competing pressures. That’s why we want to make the panel as influential and meaningful as possible.

In September 2023 you told us that you wanted to know more about:

• Workforce development
• Disparities in role focus (ie Adults vs Childrens) and rural vs urban 
• Self-Directed Support implementation

We have now delivered these sessions and are seeking your views on what the panel should present in the coming months here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7VK7RH6

You also told us that a facilitated conversation after a presentation is your preferred format for the sessions. We think we have successfully provided this so far. However, we are also aware that there will be sessions where breakout rooms are the most effective way of engaging with some subjects. We will ensure that future sessions are designed with these preferences in mind.

If there are any topics that you wish to nominate for a future session that is not included in the survey please let us know through the panel mailbox: SWPP@basw.co.uk 

Free coaching service for all social workers and social work students in Scotland 

What is the Social Work Professional Support Service (SWPSS)?

• A FREE and independent peer coaching service by and for social workers
• Has an ambition to have an impact on the culture of practice enabling social workers to be able take care of yourselves
• Facilitated by experienced and trained social work coaches who volunteer their time
• Provides you with a safe and empathetic space to think through any professional and/or personal challenges you may be facing
• Offers a confidential peer to peer listening space
• Supports self-care, wellbeing and empowerment
• Funded by the Scottish Government

The service is geared to provide coaching support whether you are a student, social work practitioner or manager. We have coaches from different fields and the whole range of experiences - choose your own coach and set up a session at a time that suits you.

Social workers have used the service to talk through their career planning and development needs, the impact of the work role on their personal life/health, placements, to gain confidence, to process the experience of being bullied/racially targeted or to manage change/turbulences in the organisations they work for.