Inspiring the future Inspiring the future of social work in of social work in

NorfolkNorfolk

Social Work’s journey in Social Work’s journey in NorfolkNorfolk

Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Psychology, UEAPsychology, UEA

Emeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEAEmeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEA

Messages for the future Messages for the future and messages from the and messages from the

pastpastContinuity in seeing social work as a unified profession across Children and Families and working with Adults

A multi-agency environment and a multi-disciplinary context

Partnerships with the voluntary, private and independent sectors, and between HEIs and practice in a joint enterprise

Contributions to local, national and international policy developments through undertaking and participating in practice- informed research

Messages from the pastMessages from the past

“Social work has arrived at a watershed moment” (Social Work Task Force, 2009, Building a Safe, Confident Future)

But we have been at watersheds before – for example, the Seebohm report of 1968 and the creation of Local Authority Social Services Departments and a unified social work profession

Concerns about child welfare were the catalyst here too

But also an awareness of a growing ageing population

Divisions between children’s and adult’s services existed at central and local government levels. (There has always been a need to find ways of joining up services across age groups.)

An identified need for more and better training for social workers

Parallels Pre-SeebohmParallels Pre-Seebohm

First report, May 2009 – First report, May 2009 – 6 key themes6 key themes

Social workers felt overburdened by high caseloads and bureaucracy;

Poor IT systems and poor supervision;

Not properly prepared for the realities of practice, and unrealistic expectations in their first year;

Lack of a strong national voice; Ineffective performance

management systems; Social workers feeling undervalued

and demoralised.

Factors affecting the Factors affecting the progress of the Seebohm progress of the Seebohm proposals – messages for proposals – messages for

the presentthe present Other government priorities and reorganisations in related areas

Tensions between central and local government

Resource limitations Giving voice to the professionals

Positives for the future Positives for the future of social work in adult of social work in adult

services from the reform services from the reform boardboard “In adult services, social workers

are essential to the delivery of personalised services and to achieving better outcomes with adults of all ages who need services, support or protection”

“As well as assessment, core planning and review and adult safeguarding, social workers may also offer advice to self-funders and engage in community development and work to create safe, healthy and prosperous communities.”

• To preserve enduring skills for good social work practice with individuals, families and communities

• Strong practice educator partnerships between HEIs and practice

Equal access for continuing professional development

Emphasise the unique contribution of social work in health and social care

A robust, shared, research agenda, and research awareness in practice

Social work educationSocial work education

My own Norfolk social work My own Norfolk social work journeyjourney

From Norwich child care officer to South Norfolk patch social worker to Wymonham Family Centre worker to researcher, placement tutor visits, and Making Research Count in Norfolk

From specialist (functional division of work), to generic (geographical) to (functional) child protection/ family support/ LAC to ‘Think Family’

People needing services: Increase in addictions, domestic

violence more ethnically diverse population

Changes in social work discourseChanges in social work discourse

from ‘clients’ to ‘people who use services’ (and back?)

from ‘social casework’ to ‘intervention’; ‘team leader’ to ‘team manager’ (and back? - post reform board and Munro)

from ‘anti-racist’ to ‘anti-discriminatory’ practice to ‘cultural competence’

Knowledge-based or Knowledge-based or evidence-based practice?evidence-based practice?The arrival of ‘commissioning’ makes

it essential for front line social workers and team leaders to be ‘research literate’ - value new thinking but critically appraise and challenge ‘the latest fashion’ – adapt new research evidence to ‘what is likely to work’ in Norfolk for different groups of adults and children.

How to meet that challenge (of making use of best evidence in each case) in a cost effective way in your crowded days.

Contributions to national as well as Contributions to national as well as local policy and practice local policy and practice

developmentsdevelopments

‘The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work’. IFSW

.

Partnership-based contributions to Partnership-based contributions to national as well as local policynational as well as local policy

Norfolk’s Social Services/ Children’s Services Directors and lead politicians have played key roles in National as well as local policy developments

UEA staff have used (often Norfolk-based) research and what we have learned from local social workers on PQ courses and via placement visits to inform evidence to select committees, GSCC, various task forces on social work practice and education and training, cross-national research.

Partnership-based contributions to Partnership-based contributions to national as well as local policynational as well as local policy

Essential for front line social workers to join with colleagues in other professions, managers, colleagues in HEIs and elected members in finding ways of making sure the voices of children and adults facing increasing pressures are heard where it

can count.

Make your own contributions to the Social Work Reform Board, Munro Review, College of Social work, Family Justice Review

The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work. The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

Inspiring the future Inspiring the future of social work in of social work in

NorfolkNorfolk

Social Work’s journey in Social Work’s journey in NorfolkNorfolk

Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Psychology, UEAPsychology, UEA

Emeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEAEmeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEA