Principal social worker networks announce new chairs

New leadership unveiled for two networks representing PSWs for children's and adults' services in England

By Mithran Samuel on July 12, 2024 in Social work leaders, Workforce

Photo: Olivier Le Moal/AdobeStock

New chairs have been announced for the two principal social worker (PSW) networks that represent practice leaders in England.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Gavin Butler and Kate Concannon, the PSW in Southampton, will take the helm of the Adult Principal Social Worker (APSW) Network for the next two years, from next month.

They succeed Sarah Range (Southend) and Hannah Scaife (South Gloucestershire), and will be supported by new vice-chairs Vanna Changlee (Waltham Forest), Seanna Lasseter (Walsall) and Coleen Simon (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust). Meanwhile, Paula Swift (Tees, Esk and Wear Vally NHS Trust) has stepped down from her previous vice-chair role.

For the Principal Children and Families Social Worker (PCFSW) Network, Shungu Chigocha (Achieving for Children/Windsor & Maidenhead), Tapiwa Julius (Cambridgeshire) and Louise Spragg (Telford & Wrekin) have been made chairs.

They will take over from Paul McGee (Essex), Clare Poyner (Portsmouth) and Rob Tyrrell (Gloucestershire) in September.

The networks bring together principal social workers from councils, and in the case of the APSW, mental health trusts, across England, to provide mutual support, share good practice resources, develop policy and influence government.

The children’s network is funded by the Department for Education (DfE), while the adults’ group is resourced by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and the groups have close links to the department’s respective chief social workers.

Isabelle Trowler has been the chief social worker for children and families since the role’s inception in 2013, while there has been a vacancy for the adults’ job since January, when her long-term counterpart, Lyn Romeo, retired.

In April, the DHSC readvertised for Romeo’s replacement at a higher salary than in last year’s first recruitment round.

principal social workers, social work leadership