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Social workers reveal their views on government exclusion policy

Social work values and skills are under-used in the battle against social exclusion. Rachel Downey reports on a new Community Care survey.

Social workers are being excluded from the government's attempt to improve the lives of many disadvantaged people in Britain. And their exclusion is hampering attempts to promote social inclusion.

The findings of two surveys conducted for Community Care reveal that the government's social inclusion schemes are failing to have a significant impact on the people at whom they are targeted.

There is general consensus among social workers that many disadvantaged people have been overlooked by the social inclusion strategy initiated when New Labour took power in 1997.

A sample of 20 social workers who work directly with clients found that none believe the strategy has been very successful in improving the lives of the most disadvantaged in society. The rest are divided between "fairly successful" and "not at all successful" or "not very successful". Those who believe it has been successful pointed to extra resources in their area.

Many believe more money is needed. There is recognition that funding has been allocated for deprived areas but, as one worker put it: "It's just a drop in the ocean." Another commented: "Things are getting better for some people but there's a long way to go."

But most have seen no signs of improvement in their field of work. "People with disabilities are very excluded," said one worker. Another remarked: "In mental health, I have noticed no difference."

However, most worrying for the government is the fact that some of the social workers interviewed did not even know it was attempting to tackle social exclusion. One said they were aware of "more money sloshing around" but they had not seen where it went. Another pointed out that the people the strategy is supposed to be helping have "no voice to actually speak for themselves".

Most believe the government has overlooked groups of disadvantaged people. One commented: "It still excludes those people with the most problems." Specifically they named children, including those with severe physical disabilities; children from ethnic minorities; young people living in rural areas; young male adults; 16 to 18-year-olds; people with disabilities; asylum seekers; homeless people; and people with severe addiction problems.

"I don't know which ones but they have probably overlooked some minority ones, they always do," said one, adding: "The research needs to be not just from the professionals in the area but also from the people who are actually living there."

The government is not putting enough investment into tackling social exclusion, according to the sample. They believe that Labour has to overcome disinvestment by previous Conservative administrations and that the problem is so vast, it will require far greater resources.

"There can never be enough resources," said one. Another said: "I don't think there is enough money to help people's needs, there are such a lot of people in the community who are struggling."

Social workers noted the need for jobs and accessible services in disadvantaged areas and the fact that a fiscal policy is essential to combat social exclusion. However, when it came to the government's pledge to halve child poverty in 10 years, many pointed out that poverty was not just about money. One worker summed up: "It's more than just about finance - it's culture, environment, local values and co-operating in the local community."

Most want to see an increase in the funding of core social services, arguing that new investment in specific areas leads to cutbacks in others. More money would "increase the output of social services in terms of meeting the needs of socially excluded people", said one.

Social work values and skills are under-used in combating social exclusion, according to the staff sample. The government does not support or professionally recognise them. One commented that in the run up to the general election, too much emphasis was placed on education and the health service "yet social work is just as important, particularly child welfare, child poverty, and poverty generally".

Insufficient consultation and communication were also highlighted. "The government needs to consult with social workers like ourselves who deliver the services, as well as including services users' views." Another said: "They need to listen to the workers."

Our sample of social workers was clear about their role in helping socially excluded people. Their role was seen as "very important" because they meet vulnerable people. Empowerment was key. "To improve their quality of life, support them instead of doing it for them," was one view. More hands-on work and increasing the range of services and the numbers who can access them were mentioned.

Social workers warned that social work values were under threat because social services departments were disappearing and adult social care services moving to the health service. They want the government to raise the profile of social work and encourage recognition of its values. The government must embrace social work values in the structural changes and ensure that they are shared by other agencies such as health and education.

Increased consultation was also key. "I'm unaware of consultation at social workers' level. Talking to ground staff is crucial," said one worker.

The message to government is clear - use social work values, expertise, training and insight to help combat social exclusion. But social workers need their own three Rs - recognition, resources and respect. Only then can they work with vulnerable people, including those who have been omitted from the government's social inclusion targets, to improve their lives.

Absence of services

- Three-quarters of the sample of people living in the 10 most deprived areas of England had never received any social services. Of the quarter that had, the majority had received emergency funding, home help, or occupational therapy.

- All of those who had received personal care said it had improved their lives. And all those who received home help said it had improved their quality of life, with three-quarters reporting a great improvement. The percentages were exactly the same for those receiving occupational therapy.

- Of those who had received emergency funding, three-quarters said it had improved their lives to some extent and the rest said it had made a great improvement.

About the sample

- The survey of 102 people was taken in the 10 most deprived areas in England, according to the government's indices of deprivation.

- All described themselves as being either a single parent, receiving income support, being physically disabled or having a mental illness, or having been classified as homeless in the past year.

- Two-thirds of the sample were female; one-third male.

- 20 social workers who work directly with clients were interviewed for the staff survey.

The surveys were conducted by NSM Research.

Workers' words
The views of social workers

"I don't think that social work is significant in the government's thinking, all the money goes into health rather than social services. We need more of a directive of where we are going and where we will be working - where I'm sitting I can't see that."

"It [the government] needs to understand what we do. It needs to value social work and people in general."

"While they seem to be articulating concerns around social exclusion, there aren't enough resources and there doesn't seem to be a strategic policy as far as ground workers are concerned."

"The government don't give social workers the credit that we deserve."

"Social services are not valued, they're an integral part of helping the disadvantaged. The government still has a problem with class, predominantly social services clients are overlooked and dismissed but are meant to be grateful."

"Social inclusion means that everyone can have a job, have a normal lifestyle, that people feel valued - these policies should be an on-going process, investment needs to continue to see long-term benefits."

"It's all money and slogans. They say they're addressing the problem but nothing happens - all mouth and no action."

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US workers inundated with calls for help

Alex Dobson reports on the massive worload of US social workers in the aftermath of 11 September.

Twelve-hour days are now the norm for Mila Tecala. The National Association of Social Workers’ social worker of the year and head of the Centre for Loss and Grief in Washington DC is one of hundreds of practitioners working night and day, trying to pick up the pieces for families ripped apart by the New York and Pentagon attacks of 11 September 2001.

Two weeks on from the attacks now known to have killed more than 6,000 people, Tecala and her colleagues are being swamped by calls for help from families, friends and workmates of those who are missing, and from many others struggling with the trauma of escape.

There are other people too who are turning to social workers. Hundreds of children have lost a parent, and many have been orphaned. Social workers who are specialists in bereavement counselling say they are being inundated with requests for help and advice.

Many families are turning to social workers for help with dealing with the funerals and other affairs of relatives whose bodies may never be found. Countless survivors need counselling that has to be arranged. Social workers are also staffing emergency resource and mental health centres in New York and Washington DC, and dealing with the thousands of people looking for lost relatives. Many practitioners have volunteered to provide mental health and other services, while some have been working with the Red Cross and other agencies.

“Since the tragedy happened it has been so very busy, with not enough hours in the day to help everyone who needs it,” Tecala explains.

“I have been working with the employees of American Airlines. The plane that crashed into the Pentagon came from a local airport and many of the employees of the airline have been having the greatest difficulty coming to terms with the loss of their colleagues. It has impacted on all the employees from ticket sales staff to the pilots and the stewards.

“We have worked with groups, debriefing them. We talk to them about the feelings that people often experience when they are faced with a disaster and help them to understand what the normal reactions are and what to look out for in the future, and how to be aware when they are not able to come to terms with their feelings.”

Michael Cronin, a social worker from New York, is working as part of a disaster mental health team put into place to help co-ordinate and support the volunteers who came to help.

He reflects: “Teams of trained volunteers began to arrive in droves from across the country to assist the new volunteers who were doing the most incredible job without having disaster training and experience.

“For most of that first day, I led a team of mental health workers at the site. The air was full of dust and smoke, and several times we had to run for safety when the last of the buildings collapsed.”

Social workers such as Cronin and Tecala are at the heart of the recovery process as the American public attempts to come to terms with the devastating acts of terrorism that struck at the heart of their country.

“Social workers are already part of numerous professional teams dealing with the after effects of this tragedy,” says NASW’s executive director Elizabeth Clark.

“Our members are committed to helping citizens in schools, hospitals, community mental health

centres, and emergency resource centres.”

Mental health experts are warning too that the psychological effects of the terrorist attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon are only just being felt and the need for support from trained practitioners will increase in the coming weeks.

But support will be needed for practitioners too. Tecala says that it is vital that social workers themselves guard against the symptoms of stress and anxiety as they help others.

Otherwise, there is a danger that the scale of the tragedy may overwhelm the very people providing the support.