I don't have an axe to grind in any sense but am just wanting to ask for the sake of information. I know there was criticism of the representation that Lisa Arthurworrey received via BASW and I wanted to know what alternatives exist. I feel it is important to have access to this support. I'm a member of Unison but I think that has a different scope (and have, both personally and anecdotally not found them terribly useful). 

I read about social workers joining Unite a few weeks ago, but looking at their website they don't seem to have anything to offer, especially for those of us in adult services. That wasn't very helpful, was it?

 Always helpful - thanks for responding. I think it just seems that there isn't much around! 

In terms of unions, the line-up seems to be Unison, Unite, GMB and Aspect, which has recently set up a social care section.

 Thanks for that. I'm actually a member of Unison but I have very little faith in their will or ability to represent social workers to be honest. I think they have their fingers in too many pies. It might be an issue of individual shop stewards and I have particularly little faith in the one I work with as he appears to have his own agenda. 

So I'm actually paying out quite a lot on a monthly basis for both BASW and UNISON membership and from what I'm reading about BASW representation, they don't necessarily provide the best support. 

The need to join Unison as far as I'm concerned, comes as they are the largest union within the local authority and nonewithstanding the ineffectual nature of particular shop stewards, I still think its better to be in a union than not in one. 

Maybe some of the newer unions would be worth looking into. I just feel that BASW has/had something distinct as a voice for social workers as opposed to the generalist nature of Unison