UK-wide peer support for social work students is launched
Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 4 April, 2023
A monthly online “open clinic” for social work students is to be launched.
The BASW Student Peer Support Special interest Group (SIG) will meet at 6pm for an hour on the last Thursday of every month.
It has been created by BASW’s student ambassadors’ group to make peer support for social work students universally available.
Chair Leigh-Anne Coffey said: “I was inspired by my university which has introduced the concept of peer support.
“I thought, what about students that don’t have the support system? So at the first ambassadors meeting I said I’d be interested in incorporating what we are doing at the university by offering peer support to a wider cohort of students.
“It is a great way for them to come on a monthly basis and just be able to off-load, offer advice, connect to other social work students, see what they are getting up to, share ideas. And if they have problems, have someone to vent to.”
As well as being able to signpost to other services and support within BASW, the new SIG will help students gain a wider view of social work, said vice-chair Ioan Racasan.
“At a recent ambassadors meeting someone mentioned they were struggling on their placement.
“Just having somewhere to go and get a broader perspective can really help. I am passionate about international social work. Talking to other students you realise that social work is broader. It is more than just my university or my placement.
“Social workers often feel they are here to fix a problem, but the group is not only about fixing problems, it is about creating opportunities, like networking. It will be informal, nothing structured – like an open clinic.”
Being a student against the backdrop of the cost of living crisis is expected to be among topics of conversation in the coming months, particularly with a higher proportion of mature students in social work.
Leigh-Anne said: “I am based in the north-east which is quite a deprived area. Balancing family life and student life is definitely top of students’ agendas.”
The unfairness of student bursaries is also another topic likely to emerge. Leigh-Anne describes the process in England – where limited bursaries are given to universities by the government – as “brutal”.
“People are struggling to get financing and bursaries,” she said.
Through the group, students can be signposted to campaigns such as that currently being pushed by the Social Workers Union around student bursaries.
As well as being a platform to share issues, the new group also aims to be a space to share positive stories about social work.
Ioan said: “Social workers seem to be forever firefighting, but at the same time there are so many amazing stories. I think we need to tell more about these stories, the happy endings, the positive impacts.”
He added: “It’s about bringing people together. So much was online during Covid. I recently went to some conferences and it was amazing to mingle with people. That is what social workers are missing.”
Ioan added he hoped the group could contribute to solving the recruitment crisis facing social work: “So many social workers are leaving, not because of the work pressures or service users, but because of the management.
“That is something we can change and that is where BASW can support us.”
To find out more or to join the group email gabriella.zavoli@basw.co.uk