“Respect for diversity and different cultures and values” was at the heart of the Social Work Reform Board’s recently published tenets of social work. 

Not every issue around ethnic or cultural difference is obvious – it goes far beyond skin colour and social workers have to balance this respect with maintaining fundamental practice.

Community Care has looked at some of the areas where ethnic or cultural differences may influence practice or on occasion be missed, and at some of the good practice that can be applied.

We report how care services must adapt to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population of people over-65 who come from ethnic minorities, leading to calls for councils to improve planning.

And we reveal a glass ceiling for social care professionals from ethnic minorities which means they hold just 2.5% of adult social care director posts. Cardiff Council’s director of social services Neelam Bhardwaja tells how she beat the barriers to rise to the top and Unison’s Narmada Thiranagama gives advice on how to tackle racism in the workplace.

Child protection experts present advice on how to avoid the culture traps in children’s services, which hindered efforts to protect Victoria Climbié and Khyra Ishaq. We also report on the links between autism and race and tell how support groups are working to improve the success rate of trans-racial adoption.

Elsewhere, the hidden scandal of learning disabled people being forced into marriage is revealed and best practice tips to prevent the issue are offered. We also report on how mental health is believed to be deteriorating among members of the Muslim community as people increasingly feel under siege.

And we also offer tips on how professionals can engage with all sections of a diverse society and present the latest research on reducing inequalities in care services provision.