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Are you thinking of joining the College of Social Work?

The College of Social Work was launched last week and there are probably lots of social workers out there pondering whether to join it. If you are one of those social workers and need a bit of help, Mithran Samuel has written an analysis of some of the...

Published 12 Jan 2012 4:33 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: BASW, college of social work, social work, social workers, unions, Unison, workforce

Unions: No decision made on local gov pensions

Unions have denied rumours that a decision has already been made over the amount social workers and other council staff will have to pay into their pensions in the future. Rather, Unison, GMB, Unite and the Local Government Association have reached a...

Published 19 Dec 2011 11:35 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Family Mosaic's care staff back formal strike ballot

The dispute between care staff and senior management at Family Mosaic looks set to continue after Unison's members at the housing association voted in favour of a formal ballot for strike action. Unison said the "drastic proposals" to cut...

Published 19 Dec 2011 10:32 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Return of the 'child snatchers'

I was appalled to read this headline in the Sunday Express at the weekend : "Social workers 'sex up abuse claims to snatch children for adoption'." Have we gone back in time? Have tabloid newspapers learned nothing? In 2009, Community...

Published 12 Dec 2011 8:43 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Hutton: Public sector pensions 'heading for the rocks'

Last week's downgraded growth forecasts from the Office of Budget Responsibility makes the case for public sector pensions reform more urgent , according to Lord Hutton - which may feel like a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of public...

Published 5 Dec 2011 3:46 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Jeremy Clarkson's anti-strike rant on The One Show angers public sector unions

Unison has called on the BBC to sack Jeremy Clarkson following his comments about striking public sector workers on The One Show yesterday. For those who missed it: Read More...

Published 1 Dec 2011 11:49 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Pension strikes: Dealing with 'betrayal at dawn'

Simon Cardy, a Unison steward and children's social worker in a local authority in the west midlands, shares his experiences from yesterday's strike over public sector pension reforms. "At 7am yesterday morning two trade union members turned...

Published 1 Dec 2011 9:26 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Unison: The public service 'pension pinch' #N30

Scroll down to find out how Unison predicts a 54-year-old social worker will be affected by the government's proposals to reform public sector pensions. Read More...

Published 30 Nov 2011 11:46 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

College of Social Work launch postponed

The Guardian reports this morning that the launch of the College of Social Work has been postponed amid claims that the £5m public funding made available to start the organisation is being used to create a "closed shop" for the Unison. More...

Published 25 Nov 2011 10:16 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Unison: Why social workers should strike on 30 Nov

Unison's general secretary, Dave Prentis (pictured on the right), tells Community Care why the union is encouraging social care staff to take part in the national pensions strike on 30 November . "Social care staff, already buckling under the...

Published 24 Nov 2011 4:34 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Social worker fees will be 'appropriate and realistic'

Marc Seale, chief executive of the Health Professions Council (HPC), responds to our article, Social workers could pay twice to register next year . "The HPC is conscious that some social workers may have to pay both their General Social Care Council...

Published 23 Nov 2011 2:51 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

SCIE adds Ealing social work chief to board

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has added David Archibald, the executive director children and adults at Ealing Council, to its board. Archibald started out as a social worker in Glasgow and Birmingham and became the director of social services...

Published 17 Nov 2011 11:22 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

BASW seeks views on ethics code

By Tristan Donovan (despite the photo of Ruth) Fancy a discussion about social work ethics? If so then you're in luck because the British Association of Social Workers wants views on the draft version of its revised Code of Ethics . The code dates...

Published 10 Nov 2011 1:56 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: ethics, social work, workforce

Developing Leadership in Social Work and Social Care

by Claudia Megele, a social worker and service director of A Sense Of Self, which offers support groups, psychotherapy and counselling services in London. Professionals and Twitteratis came together once again last Tuesday for Social Work/SocialCare and...

Published 7 Nov 2011 3:35 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: management, social care, social media, social work, social workers, training, twitter, workforce

Social workers to be charged £700 a year to park at work

We reported yesterday that Doncaster Council is offering employees a choice between a 4% pay cut and losing their job, according to Unison. And the cherry on the cake for council workers appears to be a plan to charge them £700 a year for parking, even...

Published 28 Oct 2011 12:25 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: doncaster, parking, social work, social workers, Unison, workforce

Unite begins balloting members over pensions strike

Unite yesterday began issuing ballot papers to 160,000 of its members on whether to take part in a possible series of national strikes over public sector pensions, starting on 30 November . General secretary, Len McCluskey, said: "This is a historic...

Published 27 Oct 2011 11:43 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

BASW tables early day motion re: College concerns

And here it is, folks Read More...

Published 26 Oct 2011 12:46 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Have you been abused or threatened at work?

Community Care is producing its second special report on violence against social care staff . Last year we found that nine out of 10 social workers had been abused, assaulted or threatened with violence while on duty . We'd appreciate it if you would...

Published 26 Oct 2011 10:58 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

'Employers sometimes ignore the fresh knowledge newly qualified social workers can offer'

Ruth Cartwright, England manager of the British Association of Social Workers, talks to Community Care about the support given to newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) in the workplace, compared with the "readiness to practise" of social work...

Published 25 Oct 2011 5:30 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Spoiler alert: Eastenders social work storyline

Eastenders character Roxy Mitchell talks to a social worker in one of next week's episodes after her daughter, Amy, ends up in hospital. Let us know what you think of the Beeb's depiction of social workers by commenting below. Find out more at...

Published 25 Oct 2011 10:39 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Social workers: when was your last supervision?

Social workers often say that they don't get regular enough supervision. But managers have been heard to claim that they offer plenty of supervision. Who is right? There's only one way to find out.... Fight! Fight! Fight!... On second thoughts...

Published 24 Oct 2011 5:35 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: adults, children, social work, social workers, supervision, workforce

Channel 4 show rewards 'inspirational people'

Word has reached us that a new Channel 4 show is looking for "inspirational people who have dedicated a lot of time to helping others", who will then be rewarded with a "special treat" (the mind boggles). This could apply to carers...

Published 24 Oct 2011 3:22 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

BASW hits back at government response to concerns

So it seems the British Association of Social Workers will have the last word before the weekend (mainly because my post- NCAS brain cannot write any more news or blogs after this). Anyway, BASW has hit back at the Department for Education's response...

Published 21 Oct 2011 5:51 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Anti-College of Social Work protest disappoints

by senior reporter Jeremy Dunning The anticipated protest by the British Association of Social Workers at the National Children and Adult Services conference turned into a bit of a damp squib. Chief executive Hilton Dawson managed to get his harangue...

Published 21 Oct 2011 5:30 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Unison's tug of war over 'great pensions robbery'

Outside the House of Commons Unison yesterday staged a tug of war against "masked raiders", David Cameron, Nick Clegg and George Osborne, over what the union is calling the "great public sector pensions robbery". Read More...

Published 21 Oct 2011 2:38 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Live social work Twitter debate a success

by Claudia Megele, a social worker and service director of A Sense Of Self, which offers support groups, psychotherapy and counselling services in London. Social work/social care practitioners, students, academics, campaigners, journalists and organisations...

Published 21 Oct 2011 2:16 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: social media, social work, twitter, workforce

Chief social worker could be brought in earlier than planned

The post of chief social worker in England could be created earlier than planned, it was suggested yesterday. Speaking at the National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCAS), the Department for Education's Jeanette Pugh said: "We have...

Published 20 Oct 2011 11:33 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

HPC's head of policy on the new standards for social workers

Michael Guthrie, head of policy and standards at the Health Professions Council (HPC), explains why social workers in England should get involved with their work to develop new standards for the profession. "As you may be aware, next year the regulation...

Published 18 Oct 2011 6:20 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

BASW: College of Social Work debate is 'patronising'

The College of Social Work is today launching a "big debate‟ as part of a major membership recruitment campaign ahead of its formal launch in January next year. The campaign will highlight a number of key words associated with social work in the...

Published 18 Oct 2011 10:27 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

DH to launch consultation on social work bursaries

Rumour has it that the Department of Health is finally about to launch its consultation on changes to the bursaries given to social work students. The consultation was supposed to begin at the beginning of the year, but was pushed back while the coalition...

Published 14 Oct 2011 3:30 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Lords (briefly) discuss social work regulation

There didn't appear to be much mention of social work regulation in the House of Lords debate on the health and social care bill, which started on Tuesday and carried on yesterday. The exception was Baroness Pitkeathley, who chairs the Council for...

Published 13 Oct 2011 11:56 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Social work academy opens for NQSWs and experienced staff

Birmingham Council yesterday launched a social work academy for staff in its children's services, in partnership with Birmingham Uni. But, unlike the academies in Croydon and Hertfordshire, this one is for experienced staff as well as newly qualified...

Published 11 Oct 2011 11:49 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Recognising unsung social workers

Senedd building, Cardiff, where the awards were held The efforts of social workers in Wales have been recognised in a national awards ceremony. Introducing the 2011 BASW Cymru Social Work Awards, Mark Drakeford, Labour Welsh Assembly member, said the...

Published 7 Oct 2011 12:03 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Unison Scotland prepares to ballot over pensions

Unison Scotland is preparing to ballot members on whether to take industrial action against proposed changes to pensions, including the Scottish Local Government Pension Scheme. The union's Scottish secretary, Mike Kirby, said it was unlikely members...

Published 4 Oct 2011 11:38 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Reaction to College latest: reading between the lines

Most of those to officially respond to the College of Social Work's announcement that it will launch in January without the British Association of Social Workers have tiptoed around the actual dispute between the organisations, preferring instead...

Published 22 Sep 2011 1:05 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

How are social workers dealing with money worries?

Community Care and the College of Social Work are trying to find out how social workers are coping with increasing financial pressures and whether they are having to resort to taking on other jobs to maintain their standard of living. Please take a few...

Published 22 Sep 2011 12:02 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Shock horror: College goes ahead without BASW

The College of Social Work's announcement today that it will go ahead and launch without the British Association of Social Workers comes as no huge surprise. The two organisations have been wrangling over how a single college should be set up and...

Published 21 Sep 2011 2:43 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Talks on social work pensions resume under threat of strikes

Talks on the future of local government pensions will resume tomorrow with unions across the public sector threatening industrial action over government plans to increase contributions, delay retirement and reduce the value of pensions paid. GMB national...

Published 21 Sep 2011 11:27 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: GMB, pensions, social workers, workforce

Social worker vacancy rates: behind the data

PHEW. We have just published our annual investigation into social worker vacancy rates in local authorities throughout the UK . It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to gather and analyse data for more than 200 local authorities and health and social...

Published 21 Sep 2011 11:25 AM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

Social workers told to use council branded pool cars

Social workers at South Lanarkshire Council are furious over changes to its car allowance scheme, according to local Unison and British Association of Social Workers reps. Gone is the annual £500 car allowance and 40p mileage, to be replaced with a pool...

Published 15 Sep 2011 5:52 PM by The Social Work Blog

Filed under: workforce

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