A BASW stalwart who was ‘always on the right side of the arguments’

Tributes have been paid to one of BASW’s founding members, Stan Smith, who has passed away, aged 90.

Described as a “kind”, “generous” and “compassionate” social worker by those who knew him, Stan started his social work career in 1965 after originally training to become a priest. His first role was as a probation officer in Liverpool where he grew up.

He went on to complete a Masters in applied social studies at Bradford University and after the Seebohm reorganisation of social services into generic departments joined West Riding of Yorkshire in 1971.

Throughout his career, Stan remained a committed member of BASW, heavily involved in his local north-east branch and also served on the England committee.

At the time of BASW’s 50th anniversary in 2020, he wrote: “BASW has always paralleled my social work career. The many changes in the settings in which social work is practised have made it essential that there should be a body which upholds the concept of social work as an established profession.

“My hope is that it should become unthinkable for a social worker not to be a member of its professional organisation.”

Tributes to Stan

Allan Orrick (BASW north-east branch treasurer and former chair and vice chair of BASW England): "I must have known Stan for over 35 years. As time went by, we started to travel to England committee meetings together, with me collecting him on my way to Newcastle Central Station and frequently had a good laugh together.  I remember the day he was presented with honorary membership of BASW at a UK AGM and how he was quite taken aback, but also very pleased. I will miss him."

David Jones (former general secretary (1985-94) and BASW chair and chair of the BASW International Committee 2017-2021: “I remember Stan as a constant and consistent presence at BASW events, a strong and persistent advocate for social work values drawing on his long experience, and a generous person.”

Christian Kerr (former North-east branch chair (2020-2022): “I didn't get the opportunity to work with Stan directly but his legacy was evident in the fond way in which branch members spoke of him and of his commitment to upholding the voice of north-east social workers and north-east people, particularly those in vulnerable situations. It was a privilege to follow in Stan's footsteps and to try in some small way to honour his history of standing up for north-east people, supporting under-resourced communities and ensuring the branch remained focused on the principles of social justice, equality and activism.”

Jacqui Moore (former BASW member and chair of the England Committee): “Stan was a very faithful member of the England committee for quite a few years. The number of posts he held is testimony to his commitment to BASW.  A courteous and thoughtful person who will be missed by many.” 

Dave Harrop (BASW member): “He was a BASW stalwart and kept the branch going, sometimes against the odds. I always felt that he was almost always on the right side of the arguments.” 

Juliana Nnaji (BASW member): “I'm saddened to learn about Stan's death. He was very professional and caring person whose beliefs was rooted in social care values. He will surely be missed by all.”

Wayne Reid (BASW England professional officer): “When I first joined BASW in 2017, Stan was welcoming and collaborative – it was a pleasure to work with him in supporting the north-east branch.” 

Maris Stratulis (BASW England national director) said: “Stan played an integral role in the history of BASW and BASW England. He was an extremely kind and generous man and was passionate about equality and anti-oppressive practice. Stan was ethical, a great spokesperson for social workers, the profession and actively promoted the role of social workers in diverse settings. He treated everyone with respect and dignity and took great pride, rightly so, in being a founder of the north-east banch. Stan also had a mischievous sense of humour; his sharp wit would make people laugh and he always had hope in his heart. Stan will be missed by so many - it was a privilege to have known him – he truly was a legend.”   

Vava Tampa (chair, BASW England National Standing Committee and Katy Jackson (vice chair, BASW England): “Although we did not meet Stan in person, his legacy of work in BASW and BASW England including national branch development and a strong England National Standing Committee lives on.”

Joan Franklin (former BASW England committee member): Stan was welcoming to new members as I found out many years ago when I went along to BASW meetings which were large gatherings in those days. It took a little time to learn the extent of his knowledge about how organisations functioned. He always prioritised the importance of probation officers and social workers to help improve the lives of people experiencing distress whilst knowing that decision-making systems would not necessarily assist the professional aims of frontline workers. Stan travelled to England committee meetings from his beloved north-east making sure that we did not lose sight of the significance of branches all over the country. Starting a meeting after a rendition of the antics of Stan and his BASW traveling companions could help bring together committee members previously unknown to each other."

Stan Smith – In his own words

Below is a brief overview of Stan’s social work career, in his own words (unedited) from 2020, which he wrote for BASW’s 50th anniversary:

“I started in social work in 1965. I was 32. I was appointed a Probation Officer. I worked in the area of Liverpool I grew up in and where my dad managed a pub. As a child I was in one of a minority group of families which ran the local pubs and shops. We generally regarded ourselves as superior to our parents’ customers. We did not play with children in the majority group. (They were allowed out on the streets until late; we weren’t). 

It was some years before I recognised the nature of this structure. I was then a volunteer with a Stepney church in an area similar to the one I grew up in. I was looking for a new direction in my life. I had abandoned my training for the priesthood after three years. I was motivated by a desire to help people. The rituals and ceremonies of the priesthood did not seem to offer to me the kind of practical conduit I needed to achieve that.

At that time “The Probation Officer,” an earIy ITV drama series was running. A clearer identity of function than the amorphous “social worker”.  A fellow student already accepted for training as a Probation Officer convinced me that I should apply. However, to my chagrin the Home Office view was that no part of my training to be a priest had relevance. Their view was that I needed to complete a further three years! No church or priest would want to think that their function was other than treating with his / her flock. It is worth remembering that the histories of many of the social work organisations which formed BASW had a religious basis. 

I deliberately chose to qualify generically. I saw my future as being in social work – not necessarily in any one setting. In 1907 at the inception of the probation service officers were to advise, assist, and befriend offenders. That concept suited my beliefs and intentions.

I remained a probation officer for 6 years, latterly in Leeds.  The move to Leeds allowed me the opportunity to complete a pioneering Bradford University Masters in Applied Social Studies.

I joined the local branch and attended meetings of SCOSW (Standing Conference of Organisations of Social Workers) established to help bring about a unified national organisation. As with my generic training I accepted and promoted that social work was moving to a new and important future. Despite a great deal of heart-searching by organisations with proud histories of their own, SCOSW led to the establishment of the British Association of Social Workers in 1970. Of the eleven organisations only NAPO (National Association of Probation Officers) chose not to be absorbed in BASW. I viewed this with great regret as I thought NAPO was a very competent organisation whose skills had a great deal to offer the new organisation. 

Had BASW become the registering body for social workers as was originally assumed, it would not have taken a further 30 years before social work became a regulated profession. It turned on vexed assumptions about the nature of professionalism. Some feared that professionalism represented an elitism rather than a guarantee of standards to recipients of services.

In 1971 I joined the new West Riding of Yorkshire Social Services Department as an adviser. Soon major changes in local authority boundaries led me to move to what became the Social Services Inspectorate, my employer for twenty years. For most of that period qualification as a social worker was a requirement of the job.

BASW has always paralleled my social work career. I have been honoured to have been involved in the local branch which has existed throughout BASW’s 50 years. And to have served on the England Committee.

The many changes in the settings in which social work is practised have made it essential that there should be a body which upholds the concept of Social Work as an established profession.

My hope is that it should become unthinkable for a social worker not to be a member of its professional organisation.”