BASW in the media

• Times letters: Covid’s lost pupils ‘risk turning to crime’ – The Times; BASW chair Julia Ross writes a letter reminding all that the safety of our streets are not the only issues. “These lost children are at serious risk of abuse both at home and on the streets. We have a duty to keep our children safe, not the other way around” – in print 28/07/2023
• Social workers and students urge ministers to reconsider bursary freeze – Community Care; Over 400 social workers and students, led by BASW and SWU, have called on government ministers to reconsider their nine-year freeze on bursaries for social work trainees in England 
• Social work student bursaries ‘unfair’ – Morning Star; BASW and SWU present letter to Government calling for a change to unfair bursary rules that mean some students will get them while others wont – in print 28/07/2023
• Councils selected to test specialist child protection social worker role – Community Care; BASW’s raises concerns about the safeguarding risks arising from removing the requirement for social workers to hold child in need cases
• My sister is drinking heavily while pregnant. How can I help her stop? – The Guardian; BASW, through member Nandita Vytelingum, provide expert advice in response to a reader’s family dilemma 
• Social work sector decries passage of ‘small boats’ legislation – Community Care; BASW, along with 289 other charities and campaign groups decry “this truly senseless act [which] will have a devastating impact on people’s lives”.
• What now for deprivations of liberty? – Local Government Lawyer; BASW strongly criticises Government’s decision to delay the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards ‘beyond the life of this Parliament’ 
• Ofsted and BASW raise safeguarding concerns over allowing non-social workers to hold child in need cases – Community Care; BASW England emphasise the highly skilled role of a social worker and warn it “must not be diluted by sharing safeguarding-specific tasks amongst professionals with limited or no background in this area.” 
• Immigration Minister confirms rollout of "scientific age assessment" of asylum seekers in 2023 – Local Government Lawyer; BASW criticises the move, stating the measures “violate long-standing rights in relation to informed medical consent [and] offer no real advantages in assessing age” 
• DfE likely to implement agency social work restrictions – sector head – Community Care; BASW England accept the impact of “market forces” but warn that implementing the plans without addressing the drivers of locum work would be “destabilising” to the workforce 
• Some social work students face delays to joining workforce due to marking boycott – Community Care; BASW’s calls for students to shielded from the impact of late or unmarked essays and look to social work leaders and employers for support and understanding 
• Surge in children needing care in wake of pandemic as councils drastically overspend budgets to cope – The Independent; As stats show number of children in need of county council support has risen by 16,030 in a year, BASW provides a member to give a frank account of how this impacts day to day social work 
• Welsh health and care workforce speaks out – South Wales Echo, Nation.Cymru; BASW Cymru’s Jane Shears fully endorses the recommendations and says: “It is not enough for Wales’s health and care staff to merely survive. To be fully valued – and provide excellent care – they need the support, training and working conditions to thrive.” 
• Standards launched to support international recruitment of social workers – Social Work Today; Produced by BASW Diaspora ‘Special Interest Group’ (SIG) the new standards aim to ensure that international social workers have the support, guidance and training they need for their work, as well as improving retention rates for such workers 
• The key challenges facing practice educators today – Community Care; Highlighting the BASW joint project entitled, “Look after your Practice Educator” 

• Adult social workers strike over recruitment payments for children’s services staff – Children & Young People Now; SWU’s John McGowan supports members who are striking and calls for “solidarity through better working conditions and fairer pay for all.”
• Home Office has recruited just 40% of social workers needed for asylum body – Community Care; Revealing stats as BASW once again calls for social workers to not join the NAAS board due to the marginalising and overt influence of a hostile Home Office
• Life on a social work student’s income: ‘I’d never buy myself something unless it was a necessity’ – Community Care; In a feature length article, BASW’s student and former students testify to the extra difficulties they endured to qualify due to factors such as a freeze on student bursaries during a cost of living crisis and a lack of support as ASYEs while demand surged during the pandemic 

• Social work leaders must take action to embed anti-racist practice, conference told – Community Care; Naming the impact of racism was a thread that was revisited during this inaugural conference co-organised by Shantel Thomas, BASW’s anti-racism lead 
• BASW Cymru’s Abyd-Quinn Aziz talks to LBC – and repeated on radio stations Capital, Heart and Smooth – about Covid’s impact on social work practice, especially in 2020, in the context of Wales’ high profile child deaths. Abyd highlights the lack of PPE and guidance that negatively impacted practitioners, as Welsh politicians debate whether Wales requires its own independent review into children’s social care (On LBC 02/05/2023 at 6.34am & 12.48pm

• Social Workers Concerned About NI Budget – BASW NI National Director, Carolyn Ewart expresses in no uncertain terms, our concern that mooted budget cuts would have a big impact on children and families, especially with schemes like breakfast and homework clubs. Ewart also joined a discussion on BBC Ulster to emphasise these concerns and highlight the negative impact
• Asylum seekers who refuse scientific age assessment to be treated as adults under amendment to Illegal Migration Bill – Local Government Lawyer; BASW’s stance discouraging social workers from working with this particular Home Office is included in this breakdown of the new legislation
• Review publishes recommendations on safeguarding disabled children in residential settings – Local Government Lawyer; BASW’s response to the review is highlighted, as we call for “the important role of social work [needs] protecting” while calling for “further scrutiny” of Ofsted’s role 
• BASW’s Luke Geoghegan and members appear on Newsnight and Radio Kent to question the need, accuracy and capacity of bone assessments used to help whether migrants are adults or children, after a group of Tory MPs call for them to be made mandatory
• Social workers urged to report negative media coverage to union – Community Care; SWU launches attempt to gather examples of poor media reporting of social workers to inform work with press bodies to improve representation of profession in media 
• Social work students call on Labour to make bursary reforms a priority in manifesto – Morning Star; With funding bursaries frozen for the past eight years, BASW and SWU write to shadow cabinet MPs on behalf of students today to say Labour must act if in power to reform funding 
• Social workers group warns of “ongoing uncertainty” after Liberty Protection Safeguards delay – Local Gov Lawyer.co.uk; Coverage of our disappointment over the Government’s decision to delay the introduction of the Liberty Protection Safeguards and warning that the delay creates “ongoing uncertainty in the sector” ; and in this Wales/Cymru blog from Blake Morgan 
• Finley Boden: case review examining factors behind baby’s murder after return to parents – Community Care; Coverage includes BASW’s initial statement, which highlights Covid lockdown’s impact on safeguarding, while we all await the serious case review 
• BASW reacts to offensive remarks from PM Rishi Sunak and other Tory MPs about social workers, with PO Denise Monks appearing on BBC 5 Live and LBC radio to emphasise the demoralising impact on the profession while highlighting the Government’s own failure to fund recommendations from their own review. PO Rebekah Pierre appears on BBC 5 Live drivetime show to repeat these points
• Government drops pledge to invest in new social work training routes – Community Care; BASW condemns halving of committed workforce spending, describing it “a failure by government to grasp the workforce crisis in adult social care and the challenges for adult citizens and carers getting access to social work support and care” 
• Denbighshire social worker nominated in nationally recognised awards – Rhyl Journal; Local coverage of the BASW Amazing Social Workers 2023 campaign; and here with East Riding social work team named amazing social workers – East Riding Gov;
• BASW warns of ‘dilution of social worker role’ as DHSC plans more assessments by non-qualified staff – BASW expresses concern that the use of non-qualified staff will undermine a system that puts the needs of people first 

Launch of BASW’s annual survey 2023

Social workers in England quitting in record numbers – The Guardian; An interview with BASW CEO Ruth Allen references stats on showing recruitment and retention challenges from our latest survey

Social workers seeing increasing poverty and greater need on back of cost of living crisis – Community Care; Coverage leads on finding that practitioners are providing more support to people from their own resources

Social workers report caseload increase amid cost-of-living crisis – Children & Young People Now; Coverage leads on caseload pressures exacerbated by increasing poverty

Social workers report helping vulnerable out of their own pockets – Local Gov; A third of social workers are using their own resources to help the people they work with

Launch of SWU campaign to boost student bursaries

• Government has no plans to review level of social work bursaries despite nine-year freeze – Community Care; Latest standstill means undergraduate bursary worth £1,300-£1,400 less in real-terms now than in 2014, as Social Workers Union and BASW mount campaign to increase rates 
• Further coverage of the call to change the status quo in The Courier; as students accuse ministers of lack of knowledge in the Sunday Post, before developments lead to a debate in Holyrood (and covered in Rooftop News)
• The campaign call picks up momentum as MSPs agree to raise campaign for social work student bursaries with minister in Community Care article 

Other media this month

• Social workers should not assess asylum seeker ages for Home Office, professional body says – The Guardian and Community Care; An exclusive, as BASW discourages social workers from joining the Home Office’s National Age Assessment Board due to the attitude and rhetoric of Government on asylum seekers and migrants suggest political pressure could undermine practitioners’ professional judgment; covered in Community Care too 
• Hunt’s Budget boosts tax relief for foster and shared lives carers and support for care leavers – Community Care; BASW’s called to extend, from 60 to 180 days, the pause on action from creditors for people in debt provided by the breathing space scheme – and on investment in social work recruitment, retention and development 
• BASW PO Denise Monks provides a balanced BASW view to Radio 4’s Today program on the test pilot opening family courts to restricted media reporting. While we welcome transparency to educate the public and politicians on how social workers operate, and on the impact of decreasing funds and resources, we have serious concerns about the future impact reporting will have on children, especially if their emotive stories become ‘clickbait’. A further mention of our concerns are put to guests a day later
• Children’s social care bodies unite against asylum bill that ‘profoundly undermines Children Act’ – Community Care; BASW joins allies in stating concerns against bill, including it creating a separation between the rights of unaccompanied children and UK-born children, which we say “contravenes basic principles of human rights”
• Social work leaders come together to tackle mounting workforce issues – Community Care; BASW CEO Ruth Allen says “BASW’s [involvement] will ensure that the voice and experience of practitioners and people using services are central to collective thinking and action.” 

• Children’s social worker’s leave profession, with sickness, vacancy and agency rates at record high – BASW’s response to Government’s latest workforce statistics for children’s services is highlighted in Children & Young People Now; Community Care and an exclusive interview with CEO Ruth Allen in the Guardian, in addition to another Guardian article from a member providing insight into the increasing challenges of frontline services
• SASW Chair Jude Esther appears on Channel 5 to defend social work and provide context on increasing pressures from rising complex caseloads and retention of workforce issues, as a new report highlights the high level of child referrals in Scotland 
• Concerns raised over Council's future finances ahead of budget vote – Telegraph & Argus; Local coverage of BASW’s statement criticising the funding allocated for Government’s plans to reform children’s services, as council leaders in Bradford debate a way forward 
• Adult social workers’ pay down over past decade amid hike in vacancies – Community Care; BASW describe the situation as “untenable” and highlight pay [is] “now lower in real terms than in 2012”, and call out lack of support from government 
• Policy opinion: Budget devoid of ideas – Caring Times; BASW CEO Dr Ruth Allen sets out her thoughts on the chancellor’s decision to raise council tax to fund social care and to delay the social care cap
• In BASW's continued effort to help shape better portrayals of social workers and social work on TV and radio programs, member David Jones helps script-writers on the latest episode of 'Call The MidWife' 
• BASW England’s Liz Howard appears on Radio 4’s PM show to discuss how hard it is for adult social workers to reach people in need but who have multiple barriers, after a listener tells the tragic story of her mother’s death from addiction and neglect and alleged institutional neglect, saying her mother was let down by services
• Council tax: Why am I paying more if local services are being cut? – ITV.com; In a wide ranging piece looking at cuts some Welsh councils are planning to frontline services, BASW Cymru’s Abid Quinn-Aziz explains how more children are going into care due to a lack of preventive services and that a lack of money “doesn’t wash”, urging politicians to "listen to the professionals" when making budget decisions, also picked up on TV with ITV Cymru 

Response to Government’s publication of reforms to children’s services

• You can’t raise children on the cheap, so why is this government set on doing so? – The Guardian; Care leaver turned social worker, and BASW England PO Rebekah Pierre, pens an opinion piece expressing her dismay at the Government’s paltry plans for the care sector 
• DfE provides 20% of funding urged by care review in response – Community Care; BASW’s statement leads the sector response, describing the Government’s measures as “falling short of what is required to urgently tackle the crisis in children’s services” 
• Specialist child protection social workers to be piloted in DfE care review response – Community Care; Wide ranging article covering specific changes in job roles carries BASW’s comments that the response does not “reveal a clear and funded plan on how to retain social workers in the children’s care system and ensure their working conditions are fit for their role” 
• BASW England chair Vava Tampa on Channel 4 News lays out exactly what is needed to help children’s social workers manage poor working conditions and how to lower caseloads, ahead of the Government revealing its response to the Independent Review into Children’s Social Care 
• Care means being loved and protected, say teenagers – Ekklesia; Coverage of Article 39’s survey of care leavers ahead of the Government's response to the IRCSC, is commented on by BASW England PO, a care leaver, Rebekah Pierre: “The government is gambling with children’s lives by allowing them to be placed in care-less accommodation…16-17 year olds want to be loved, cared for, and protected from danger. All of which should be the bare minimum.”

• With some Welsh councils looking to cut frontline social workers, BASW Cymru’s exec committee member Abid Quinn-Aziz speaks to ITV Cymru about the potential harm this could cause to service users 
• Missing children should be a source of shame for the government – The Big Issue; BASW’s views that  a more humane approach is needed for asylum seeking children, who are often exploited by criminal gangs, are used in an article criticising the Home Office – in print 30/01/2023
• “Time was stolen from us” – Channel 5 News@5pm; An investigation reveals the large number of children with disabled parents being taken into care. Families speak of their trauma as BASW England stresses a lack of care and support packages leaves social workers with very few, and very difficult, choices and urge Government to address this gap 
• Sometimes you have to do the right thing': Arthur Labinjo-Hughes' cousin reacts to boss quitting – ITV News; Coverage of BASW’s view from CEO Ruth Allen saying it is “vital that services are provided with sufficient support when they receive negative inspection from Ofsted and the inevitable scrutiny that terrible children's deaths invoke”, warning that “services lose valued staff, have difficulties recruiting and struggle to get back on their feet and improve.” 
• Combine social work with scientific methods to boost reliability of age checks, experts advise government – Community Care; BASW shows influencing work on political debates as MP Angela Crawley airs our view that “pushing scientific methods upon age-disputed young people is incredibly insensitive [and] ignores the trauma children have been through 
• BASW backs PSW’s call to reinstate hospital social workers to improve discharge outcomes – Community Care; BASW England backs Adult Principal Social Worker Network's call for return of social work assessments on wards to support people to return home and improve quality of life 
• SWU’s John McGowan appears on BBC West Midlands, BBC Radio Humberside and BBC Radio 5 Live to discuss Ofsted’s most recent report into Solihull local authority, nine months since convictions for the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes. John emphasises good social work is happening, while highlighting poor working conditions and a lack of resources that are holding the profession back
• ‘Mixed picture’ on tackling racism on ASYE programmes, finds analysis – Community Care; BASW England’s questions ASYE evaluation criteria and what action plans have been put in place to address concerns unveiled in Skills for Care report 
• Cost of Living Crisis Forcing Children into Care – BBC Radio 4, File on 4; extended version of hard-hitting insight into how vulnerable families and social workers, provided by BASW, and coping in extreme poverty and face a daily battle to help their parents keep them safe

• Cost of Living Crisis Forcing Children into Care – BBC Radio 4, File on 4; hears from vulnerable families and social workers on the frontline, provided by BASW, who say more and more children are falling into extreme poverty and face a daily battle to help their parents keep them safe. The programme uncovers new data which reveals the increasing pressure the cost-of-living crisis is placing on children's social care and asks what the future holds for a service already struggling to meet demand. BASW’s Rebekah Pierre provides insights and urges the Government to face up to the struggles people in poverty are facing
• Teachers and social workers suffer most from ‘lost decade’ for pay growth in UK – The Guardian; “Social work is often the forgotten sector”, argues BASW, while highlighting poor working conditions, stagnant wages and poor levels of support for both experienced and new social workers. We urge Government to get a grip 
• Social workers on the small screen – Children & Young People Now; A long feature piece on the battle to change the mainly negative portrayal of social work on TV. BASW Chair Julia Ross and Senior Press Officer Anthony Dhadwal highlight the work BASW do with producers and writers to change this trend, and how we highlight the positives of social work – online & in print 01/12/2022
• BASW CEO Ruth Allen joins Ed Miliband on his 'Reasons to be Cheerful' podcast to talk about the side of social work that rarely makes the news: that of striving for social justice, of a values based career, of life changing work under challenging circumstances 
• Children's social care in Oldham to get huge £15m cash boost – The Oldham Times; Local high vacancy rates are mirrored across the country, says BASW, due to unmanageable caseloads and deteriorating working conditions 
• “It’s constant anxiety”: inside the crisis in child social care – New Statesman; BASW provide editor Anoosh Chakelian with guidance, expertise and the case studies of two anonymised members for her insightful and revealing feature on the current challenges in children’s social care - online & in print 02/12/2022
• Opinion: Using tech to tackle hoarding – BASW helps with research on numbers of people that hoard in this piece that looks at how the CoL may make things worse and explores ways to help 

• Councils Preparing for Multi-Million-Pound Budget Overspends as Crisis and Cuts Hit – Byline Times; BASW’s Anthony Dhadwal gives a frontline perspective on why increasing demand is driving more spending in children’s and adult’s services are forecasting
• Agency social work to be banned in Northern Ireland trusts next year – Community Care; BASW NI chair Orlaith McGibbon urges urgent action to address workforce challenges to ensure long-term sustainable solutions to the high level of social work vacancies 
• Healthcare organisations' letter to Drakeford over Welsh NHS concerns – Knowledia News; BASW Cymru join 32 other organisations from across the health and social care sector to write a joint letter to first minister Mark Drakeford calling in him to take action to mitigate workforce shortages 
• Cornish social worker wins silver at awards ceremony after 38 years of service – Yahoo News; Coverage of the Social Worker of the Year Awards, which BASW supported on the night 
• Agency staff social workers to be phased out in Northern Ireland – Irish News; BASW NI reiterates the importance of improving workforce support measures, training and supervision for all social work staff
• Sharp rise in social workers sharing diversity data with regulator – Community Care; Coverage of a combined effort between Social Work England, BASW, SWU, UNISON, ADASS and ADCS, in an effort to gather evidence of the workforce and potential issues 
• Councils dig deep to help children and families below poverty line – Children & Young People Now; BASW highlights stats from our recent PSW survey showing most social workers expect more children to enter care due to increased poverty over winter – in print 01/11/2022

• Training gaps leave too many practitioners unable to identify and respond to CSA, warns expert body – Community Care; BASW supports the inquiry’s recommendations to set up a redress scheme, to provide specialist therapeutic support for victims and survivors, and the proposed ban of pain compliance methods of restraint on young people in custody; considering the inquiry’s recommendations in detail
• IR35 U-turn has caused agency social workers stress and anxiety, warns BASW – Community Care; BASW criticises "entirely avoidable mixed messaging" following government decision to scrap tax status rules on 23 September and reverse this on 17 October 
• No adult social care minister appointed during Truss premiership – Community Care; BASW England’s Denise Monks describes the situation as concerning as “to [her] memory there has never been a more challenging time for the profession” 
• BASW member *Andy and BASW England PO Liz Howard join Steph McGovern on her Packed Lunch Channel 4 show to talk about the mental impact on social workers from increased caseloads and complex cases, all which is being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis 
• BASW Chair of England Committee, Vava Tampa, is interviewed on BBC Breakfast to highlight the serious and soaring demands on social work services as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Vava calls on the UK Government to introduce a nationwide social work recruitment campaign, bursary support for student social workers and an increase to the mileage allowance rate for social workers 
• Ground-breaking study begins work to improve mental health support for children and young people in social care – London-Post; Coverage of new research on the effectiveness of mental health and wellbeing support and treatment received by children and young people with social worker involvement, a collaboration involving BASW, Kingston University, the University of Cambridge, King’s College London, NCB and the Care Leavers Association
• Warning over social work caseloads – Children & Young People; More coverage of BASW/PSW snapshot survey of practitioners warning of the impact on their caseloads from the cost-of-living crisis and the real impact on vulnerable families – in print 1/10/2022

• *’Crushed by cost-of-living’ a partnership seminar produced by BASW NI, Ulster University and others – Lecturer Dr Ciara Fitzpatrick from Ulster University, BASW NI’s Andy McClenaghan and other speakers give a frank and emotive account of how the cost of living crisis is affecting people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable in society, while demanding Stormont do more. Including a joint letter with Barnardo’s and evidence presented to MLA’s. 
• Death threats prompt new guidance for journalists on covering social work– HoldtheFrontPage; SWU and BASW launch new guidance for journalists in a bid to provide more protection for social workers in the media
• Social Work England to review fees for practitioners – Community Care; News leads BASW to urge a freeze in fees, particularly in the context of the “extreme financial hardship” facing some practitioners 
• Most social workers out of pocket from inadequate mileage allowances, survey finds – Community Care; BASW campaigns Government for an increase in mileage allowances as “social workers cannot keep dipping into their own pockets”
• Kwarteng scraps IR35 rules for agency social workers – Community Care; BASW says it is too early to say what the impact of the proposed changes to IR35 will be on the sector 
• Charity for social workers in need struggling to meet demand as cost-of-living crisis bites – Community Care; A reveal of the Social Workers' Benevolent Trust restricting maximum grant to practitioners with coverage of BASW/PSW’s survey of members showing impact on them. Comments from SWU’s John McGowan on Government needing to step in.
• Living costs impact social work – Children & Young People Now; Coverage of BASW warning that social work is one of the professions worst hit by the cost of living crisis and highlights Government has not increased mileage rates in more than a decade – in print 09/09/2022
• Childrens workforce: Guide to qualifications and training – Children & Young People Now; This extensive annual guide includes BASW’s CPD offering and an excerpt from our member Patriche Bentick on life as a children’s practitioner – in print 09/09/2022
•  *PSW survey of social workers on cost-of-living-crisis – A survey of 247 BASW members reveals shocking predictions of how the cost-of-living crisis will impact people who use services. The story is referenced in a piece in the Guardian; an editorial in Wales Online; LocalGov and covered by Community Care, as well as numerous radio stations across the UK – Merseyside, Worcester, Dorset, Derbyshire – using local BASW members to bring the issues to life. BASW chief exec Ruth Allen writes to new PM Truss urging action
• UK: Unprecedented coalition calls on MPs to vote against the Rights Removal Bill – Statewatch.org; BASW joins 122 other human rights, civil society and community organisations, to call on MPs to vote against the proposed 'Bill of Rights', introduced to replace the Human Rights Act

• Cost of living crisis ‘severely’ hitting people accessing children’s and adults’ services, social workers warn – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s work in highlighting this issues, including statements warning of a crisis to social workers and our letters to Tory party leadership candidates raising awareness of the impact on low-income households 
• Social work regulations set to change following consultation – Community Care; Links to BASW England’s submitted response which broadly agrees with many of the changes but with reservations on key points, such as access to medical records and appeal processes 
• Changes to social work regulation agreed following consultation – Children & Young People Now; A reminder that BASW and SWU British Association of Social Workers broadly support legislative changes as long the regulatory framework aligns with the BASW’s code of ethics to incorporate anti-racist, anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory values 
• Welsh Government consulting on eliminating profit-making provision for children in care – Community Care; BASW Cymru gives 'full' backing to ending profits but says investing in more social workers will be crucial to policy's success 
• Neurodivergent social workers ‘exhausted’ from lack of understanding at work – Community Care; An article exploring BASW’s work on neurodivergent social workers, including a pilot study, highlights the gaps in support for them, with Deb Solomon, chair of BASW neurodivergent group sharing personal experiences 
• Rising energy prices is a “national emergency” and more support needed to tackle gravest issue UK faces, say charities – Various media / The Joseph Rowntree Foundation; BASW joins charities to urge the next Prime Minister to reassure low-income families they will receive sufficient support through a “national emergency” 
• Unaccompanied children must be protected by the care system, not placed in hotels – ECPAT UK; BASW signs a letter warning Government it is breaching the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 and the Children Act 1989 and urges it to assume direct responsibility by housing children in Home Office-acquired accommodation
• BASW issues warning over impact of cost-of-living crisis on social workers – Children & Young People Now; BASW England’s concerns in its response to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care are covered, including the cost of living crisis for social workers, the stress on the workforce created by capping and freezing student bursaries, and defending the role of IRO’s 
• Community learning disability and autism placements increasingly costlier than inpatient care: report – Community Care; BASW England question these findings, with member Alan Dean describing the focus on high costs as “misleading”, while we champion our Homes not Hospitals campaign
• Campaigners dismayed at loss of Royal Welsh Show temporary Traveller site – Travellers Times; BASW Cymru, as part of the The Welsh Coalition, writes to the council protesting their decision
• Statement from the Gyspy, Roma, Traveller Social Work Association – Traveller Times; Coverage of a statement from the GRTSW Association in response to a misleading video recorded covertly at the BASW AGM

• Work begins on country's first secure school for young offenders – Sky News; BASW Criminal Justice co-chair, Helen Woods, leads with our concerns that many young offenders will be sent hundreds of miles from home and that they would be better served in local communities 
• Social worker CPD submissions lagging behind 2021 levels, regulator reveals – Community Care; BASW England director Maris Stratulis and SWU national organiser Carol Reid warn work pressures were creating significant barriers to practitioners fulfilling their CPD obligations
• 8% of social workers have shared diversity data with regulator – Community Care; Social Work England reveal plans for joint communication with BASW, ADCS, ADASS and trade unions to increase support and response rates for diversity data 
• Social Work England issues proposed standards to ensure graduates are ready for practice – Community Care; BASW’s Wayne Reid reiterates practice frameworks such as the PCF and PEPS were “created by the profession, for the profession” and that it is vital they are maintained 

• Flexible study best way to attract next generation of social workers – The Scotsman; BASW’s annual study is used to show that retention of experienced social workers is failing in an article exploring ways to boost recruitment – in print 21/06/2022
• Should the IRO role be abolished? – Community Care; BASW joins fellow stakeholders in voicing its opposition to the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care recommendation that the IRO role should be removed 
• Student bursaries frozen for eighth year as trainee social workers struggle amid cost-of-living crisis – Community Care; SWU insist student bursaries “need to be increased as an urgent matter” and that warn rising living cost stresses “have already been too much for some social work students and their families.”
• Social worker shortages sector’s biggest concern in delivering cap on care costs – Community Care; BASW’s Liz Howard comments on the increasing challenges our members are reporting and calls on government to give urgent clarity on funding to address recruitment and retention
• Employers failing to advertise part-time social work roles, finds study – Community Care and Morning Star; New research from SWU shows just one in five job adverts offered option to work part-time, meaning organisations are missing out on "expert and committed staff", warned union chief John McGowan 
• Care Review: key proposals for the children’s services – Children & Young People Now; BASW says the Independent Review doesn’t go far enough to tackle poverty as the driver behind increasing use of services, and insists improvements cannot be made without first creating a more stable workforce – in print 01/06/2022
• Reforms would require ‘unfeasible’ boost to social work numbers without system change, says report – BASW England’s Liz Howard, warns of a “huge challenge” on top of existing workforce pressures and calls for clarity about funding

**

• Launch of national review into child deaths – BASW senior exec respond to the review into the tragic murders of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson, including failings of social workers. Appearing on BBC News, ITV, Good Morning Britain and BBC Politics North, we addressed the failings but also covered the wider context of poverty, deteriorating working conditions, lack of resources and poor retention rates contributing to a poorer service in some areas

**

• Launch of Independent review into Childrens social care – BASW senior exec and members engaged with all the major TV outlets, including BBC News, ITV, Channel 4, Sky News, to comment on this ‘once-in-a-generation’ review. While the review requires a thorough on-going analysis, BASW’s initial reaction was to broadly welcome some of the aims of the review and calling for Government to match the funding set out.
• BASW commented however, that the review doesn’t go far enough in tackling the wider context of poverty driving up demand on social services.  We also queried many aspects of the review’s recommendations for certain social worker roles, as wells questioning whether implementation of the wider plan was realistic. 
• Care system: Help families before they reach crisis, urges review - BASW widens the focus to look at how austerity years and poverty is driving up demand on social services
• Review proposals to ‘axe’ child protection conference chairs a ‘massive concern’, warns BASW - BASW warns about the loss of IRO's and the diluting of specific social worker roles
• Twenty per cent rise in children’s social workers quitting sector last year, suggest government figures - BASW highlights deteriorating working conditions behind this concerning trend and urges Government to give “the resource and funding social work desperately needs”

**

• Drugs gang boss allowed to run children’s home – The Times; BASW expresses concern at lack of oversight in setting up new children’s homes and calls for “stronger and more robust safeguards to ensure that owners and managers of children’s homes have the right motivation and experience” – in print 24/05/2022
• Social workers’ quality of working life continues to decline post-lockdowns, study finds – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan calls for better protection and working conditions for social workers and says they need to be “feel valued” 
• Inadequate’ councils bore brunt of sharp rise in social workers quitting posts last year, analysis shows – Community Care; BASW says performance ratings can “demoralise a workforce” and that more focus should be on “giving social workers quality time to do their job” 
• Prioritise retention of children’s social workers – Children & Young People Now; In the editor’s column, a call to retain social workers echoes BASW’s warning of a shortage of social workers and the urgent need to improve working conditions – in print 01/05/2022 
• Social work exits prompt shotage – Children & Young People Now; An in-depth look at the children’s social care workforce uses BASW’s annual survey to show how the career span of practitioners is too short and the reasons why they are leaving the profession – in print 01/05/2022 

• ‘I feel out of my depth’: NQSWs report ‘unmanageable’ caseloads and lack of support – Community Care; BASW England national director Maris Stratulis calls the results “concerning” and says “we must create time and support for the next generation of social workers”
• Mass resignation of social workers fear – Children & Young People Now; A more in-depth look at BASW’s annual survey of social workers and its findings about the challenges – old and new – facing the workforce (in print 01/04/22)
• Social workers urge inspection overhaul to enable more direct work – Community Care; BASW’s annual member survey cited in highlighting administrative demands as one of the biggest challenges facing social work

Uni professor behind social worker support for Ukraine – Stirling Observer; BASW cited as key supporter to member Lena Dominelli’s international scheme to support social workers impacted by the war in Ukraine (in print 23/03/22)

Caseloads bigger, more complex and harder to manage, say children’s social workers – Community Care; BASW responds by describing results as crisis turning to calamity and calls on Government to step and deliver for children’s social care

Local councils ‘left in the dark’ as Ukraine sponsorship scheme opens – The Independent; BASW sets up story with member calling for more clarity on resources for social workers to help with the refugee scheme (Non-subscription option)

Over a quarter of social workers faced racism from colleagues or managers in 12-month period, finds survey – Community Care; BASW says report removes the excuse of lack of data for inaction on tackling “a blight on our profession” 

High Court dismisses claim that failure to ban unregulated placements for 16- and 17-year-olds was unlawful – Community Care; BASW England’s Rebekah Pierre sums up BASW’s reaction calling the judgement “cruel [and] callous…in which the best interests of children are entirely absent” 

‘For some fleeing Ukraine, the trauma will never end’ – Community Care; BASW member and social work in emergencies expert Lena Dominelli discusses what support practitioners are offering in immediate response to the conflict 

*World Social Work Day – Widespread local coverage of BASW’s awarding practitioners ‘Amazing Social Workers’ awards 

£80m for Frontline-style training scheme not value for money, warns BASW – Community Care; BASW calls for assessment of impact of different social work qualifying routes on outcomes and retention needed before tendering of contracts for new fast-track programmes 

Now we’re only seeing families and adults when it hits crisis point – The Morning Star; SWU’s John McGowan reveals the increased pressures facing social workers from rising poverty levels and calls for union action 

Social workers could double time spent with families through more efficient systems, report claims – Community Care; Responding to the County Councils Network report, BASW reiterates it’s 80-20 Campaign aims that social workers need more support and staff to free them from burdensome admin to work in person with families

Cutting social worker admin could double time spent with children in care – Social Care Today; BASW reiterates it’s 80-20 Campaign aims that social workers need more support and staff to free them from burdensome admin to work in person with families 

Launch of BASW’s 2022 annual social worker survey

Exclusive: Fears of social worker exodus with staff facing ‘impossible’ workloads – Channel 4 News; BASW’s first annual survey warns of an overstretched workforce dealing with a pandemic driven rise in caseload and deterioration in working conditions 

High caseloads and funding cuts ‘risk mass resignation of social workers’ – Children & Young People Now; Coverage of BASW’s survey focuses on staff shortages, high vacancy rates and our call to Government to launch a nationwide recruitment campaign and for employers to be more flexible with jobs 

Most social workers happy in role despite unpaid overtime, cuts and Covid mental health toll – Community Care; A focus on specific findings from BASW’s first annual survey of members that find despite the challenges, many social workers remain dedicated to the role despite growing challenges 

Report: Annual BASW survey of social workers and social work – Kings Fund

Remote working in children’s services – Children & Young People Now; BASW England PO’s Rebekah Pierre and Paul Shuttleworth say what is here to stay from the sector’s digital leap forward while highlighting that face to face is still the pinnacle of good social work – in print 01/03/2022

• *Joint mini project with Press Association’s Data team to highlight pinch points across country where social work vacancies are high, covered by: Yorkshire Live, Manchester World, Warwickshire World, Cumbria Crack, Doncaster Free Press, NorthWest Mail, Milton Keynes Citizen, Derbyshire Times, Kidderminster Shuffle, Oldham Times, Watford Observer, Bedford Today, Scarborough News, Harrogate Advertiser, Buxton Advertiser, Wirral Globe; Wigan Today
• Social workers leaving profession at highest rate in past five years; BASW’s Anthony Dhadwal warns we aren’t doing enough to retain experienced professionals, while new social workers aren’t being supported enough at the beginning of their careers. BASW calls for a new strategy and more funding for areas effected by high vacancy rates
• Sharp rise in children’s social workers leaving council roles, government figures show – Community Care; BASW warns that in some areas “unmanageable” workloads were among reasons driving many practitioners to quit and calls on government to give the sector the resource and funding it desperately needs 
• Social workers warn of rise in mental health problems among children – The Guardian, Yahoo News; BASW highlight our members’ experience of seeing rising domestic violence and online child sexual exploitation due to lockdown induced isolation 

• Two-thirds of social workers experiencing deteriorating mental health because of work, finds survey – Community Care, LBC Radio; Coverage of SWU’s snapshot survey of the mental and emotional state of social workers leans on the effects Covid-19 and recent media coverage of child deaths has had on the profession, with BASW commentary included.
• The media should treat children’s social workers as heroes, not villains – Local Government Chronicle; A strong argument that uses BASW’s statement that the national review needs to be fair and about improvement rather than public vilification – in print 01/01/2022
• More children will be wrongly treated as adults under Patel’s asylum bill, MPs warn – Independent; BASW’s work with the committee in highlighting the increased risk of injustices to migrant children from a social work perspective – online 
• Child poverty rises linked to 10,000 more children going into care over five years, finds research – Community Care; BASW’s research is cited to add to the argument that poverty is behind rises in demand on social services, and echoes our warning for social workers to focus on people’s socio-economic rights – online 
• Former ADCS president among social workers on New Year Honours list – Community Care; BASW congratulates the recipients from social work who received the Queen’s New Year honours – online 
• Child deaths link to pressures of pandemic and resource shortages – Children & Young People Now; BASW’s statement and research is used to bring context to the tragic deaths of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson – in print 01/01/2022

DECEMBER 2021 (*BASW & SWU react to deaths of Arthur-Labinjo-Hughes and Star Hobson)

• Asylum-seeking children in UK at risk of self-harm and suicide, charities warn – The Guardian; BASW co-signs a letter to safeguarding institutions warning migrant children are at greater risk due to waiting longer than adults for a decision on their claim – online 
• Social services: more children in England at risk of ‘significant harm’ by the time social workers reach them – National Word; The second piece in the series with PO Paul Shuttleworth explaining how social services capacity has been significantly reduced over the years because of cuts and lack of investment – online 
• Social workers threatened and abused following Star Hobson murder – Yorkshire Post; BASW raises awareness of abuse of social workers and condemns this unacceptable behaviour – online
• Star Hobson: Social workers 'spat at on the street' – BBC News online; BASW defends social workers in face of public backlash following child deaths and calls for media and politicians to show restraint in their comments – online
• Children’s social services face £4bn budget blackhole since 2014 - as social workers call for more cash to protect kids – National Word; PO Paul Shuttleworth said investment was “always missing” from discussions on children’s social work and that “we need more time and resources” in the wake of recent child deaths – online
• BASW engages media over death of Star Hobson – BASW Chair Gerry Nosowska appeared on Channel 4 News and Sky News to highlight the unworkable pressures on social workers and depletion of resources, while a frontline member discuss the daily challenges of being a social worker on BBC News Yorkshire – online
• Covid delays in adult safeguarding have led to ‘severe consequences’ for people needing services – Community Care; BASW PO Liz Howard weighs in on a rise in domestic abuse during lockdown, pressing Government to “do more to help victims of domestic abuse as we saw in our research that incidents spiked during lockdown periods” – online 
• Review risks fanning flames of public vilification of children’s social workers – Local Government Chronicle; A passionate plea for the National Review to be balanced repeats the call from BASW to not “repeat the mistakes from the past where we narrow the scope to blaming individuals and fan the flames of public vilification” – online
• Far-Right Echoes in Westminster – Byline Times; BASW’s opposition to the Nationality and Borders Bill, especially over age assessment protocols for social workers is used in a long article about far-right anti-migrant views creeping into policy – online 
• ‘Did not listen!’ Boris shamed over little Arthur death as social care left ‘in crisis’ – Daily Express; SWU chief John McGowan turns the focus onto Government and cits BASW/SWU research into working conditions and repeated warning from the union about social services being depleted of resources and staff – online 
• Social workers 'spat at in street' as anger over Arthur Labinjo-Hughes boils over – Birmingham Mail; Daily Mail; Manchester Evening News – BASW members also get caught up in public backlash to child deaths – online
• MP calls for return of capital punishment – Blackpool Gazette; MP Cat Smith cited research by BASW revealing how funding cuts and rising caseloads are causing many experienced social workers to leave the profession, after MP Scott Benton called for a return of capital punishment – print 08/12/2021
• BASW engages media over death of Arthur-Labinjo Hughes – BASW CEO Ruth Allen appeared on Channel 4 News, BASW England national director Maris Stratulis was on ITV Central News, and PO Paul Shuttleworth spoke to BBC Radio Leicester, and our statement on the tragedy was read on Good Morning Britain – online
• Chief social workers and Zahawi condemn abuse of practitioners in wake of Arthur murder – Community Care; BASW response to the Arthur Labinjo-Hughes death is highlighted after chief social workers and Education Secretary condemn abuse levelled at practitioners in the wake of the case – online
• Zahawi: Take children into care when ‘any inkling of harm’ – Community Care; BASW challenges Education Secretary's comment that children should be removed from their families if there is “any inkling” of harm to them – online

NOVEMBER 2021

• *Joint letter – Doctors of the world; BASW CEO Ruth Allen co-signs a joint letter in response to the tragedy of 27 deaths in the English Channel, calling on the Government’s approach to be compassionate and fair to people seeking sanctuary – online  
• Council struggling to recruit social workers – Teeside Local, Teeside Gazette; BASW PO Denise Monks highlights how Teeside’s local recruitment challenges are faced nationwide due to experienced social workers leaving an under-resourced sector which is facing increasing demand, while not enough central funding is coming through – online, (2) 
• Ferguson welcomes extension of Bedroom Tax protection – Derry Now; News that legislation to protect people from the Bedroom Tax and Tory welfare cuts will be extended saw BASW NI’s Andy McClenaghan welcome the move but urged to make it permanent – online 
• BASW senior press & comms officer, Anthony Dhadwal, on BBC News cautiously welcomes the Sir Andrew Macfarlane report into opening up the family courts to media reporting, saying that while greater scrunity is needed ethical concerns remain over reporting on vulnerable people's lives, especially in the social media age - live at time and online 
• Mandatory CPD or ASYE boost needed to tackle Covid impact on social work education, finds study – Community Care; BASW’s students group chair, Jade Daniels, highlights learning gaps that need to be addressed but cautions against any punitive measures – online 
• Government age assessment changes would undermine social workers, campaigners warn – Community Care; BASW and a number of children’s charities raise concerns about the changes to make councils have children in their care age assessed and to refer their decisions for review by a new national body – online 

OCTOBER 2021

• Funding boost for councils not enough to address ‘disastrous’ state of social care, warn sector bodies – Community Care; In a piece gathering responses to the autumn budget from across health and social care, BASW CEO Ruth Allen says the chancellor has done nothing for alleviating poverty and that the “the lowest earners will still be worse off” – online 
• Nurses and shop staff in UK face tide of abuse since end of lockdowns – The Guardian, The Observer; In a wide ranging piece about rising hostility and verbal abuse of workers, BASW gets share of voice for social workers with Professional Officer Denise Monks highlighting an increase of vexatious complaints that takes time and energy away from casework – online and in print (24/10/2021)
• Senior leadership buy-in critical to tackling racism in social work, say experts – Community Care; The impact of dedicated anti-racist practitioner roles, the data gap on race and the importance of encouraging 'clumsy conversations' were discussed at Community Care Live, with BASW’s Anti-racist lead Shantel Thomas on the panel – online
• How Vulnerable Children Become an Investment Opportunity – Byline Times; An extensive piece includes BASW CEO Ruth Allen’s speech to the Housing, Community and Local Government Committee in 2019 expressing concerns that “when things become profitable… They feed into the difficulties we have, where children are placed way out of area” – online
• Social workers’ wellbeing and quality of working life have decreased over course of pandemic, study finds – Community Care; BASW’s NI national director Carolyn Ewart calls for UK governments to fund improved working conditions to improve retention – online 
• ‘What does the Policing Bill mean for Gypsy and Traveller communities?’ – Traveller Times; BASW Cymru’s Allison Hulmes is one of a number of speakers discussing Part 4 of the Policing Bill which includes plans to imprison, fine and remove the homes of people living on roadside camps – online 

SEPTEMEBER 2021

• Government rejects call to give social workers and care staff priority access to petrol – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan issues a warning about social workers unable to do statutory visits due to fuel shortages, and calls on Government to prioritise social workers and social care staff for fuel – online 
• ‘Inadequate’ councils three times as reliant on agency social workers as highest rated authorities – Community Care; BASW England national director, Maris Stratulis, says Ofsted ratings can create “additional expectations” and says “rather than focusing on performance ratings, it is vital we focus on giving social workers quality time to do their job.” – online 
• Councils received more adult safeguarding referrals, but investigated fewer cases, in 2020-21 – Community Care; BASW’s Liz Howard says the rise in domestic abuse cases “sadly reflects the national picture” during Covid-19, and explains rise in referrals yet fall in enquiries “likely to be linked to changes in local working arrangements, different application of thresholds and processes during the pandemic” – online 
• Social workers at risk over sex-ring conspiracy claims – The Times; BASW England’s Gavin Moorghen comments on the unacceptable risk to social workers from increasing numbers of vile and damaging conspiracy theories spreading on social media, calling on tech giants to do more to stop it – online 
• Government reforms ‘will not provide extra care or improve quality of life’, directors warn – Community Care; BASW’s criticises the reforms as too focused on people who developed care needs in older age having built up savings during their working lives, rather than working-age adults with longstanding needs, such as people with learning disabilities and autistic people – online 
• CPD requirement on social workers will double next year, Social Work England confirms – Community Care; Coverage of the changes and BASW and UNISON disagreement with the plan, on the grounds that it was not the right time to increase requirements because of the pandemic – online 
• JOINT PROJECT* – Working with Liberty Human Rights, Alliance for Youth Justice, Agenda and various professionals on a joint letter to Home Secretary Priti Patel protesting, and raising awareness of, the new policing bill potentially creating issues including racism towards Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities; betraying trust of service users; profiling of black and minority groups and barriers to legal protest – online and in print 13/09/2021 The Guardian, The Independent (1) & (2), Daily Telegraph (quoting BASW’s Gavin Moorghen), Newsbreak, The National Wales and various local newspapers – letter available here
• Respondents ‘cannot contribute’ to review – Children & Young People Now; Coverage of BASW’s poll of members revealing almost half of social workers and the families they work with cannot “meaningfully” contribute to the Care Review – in print 09/2021
• Children’s Workforce guide to qualification and training – Children & Young People Now; With enduring challenges posed by Covid-19, BASW England contributes on a range of subjects from teaching and training to barriers for ASYE’s and students – online 
• Keep the lifeline - open letter to the Prime Minister – Big Issue; WiredGov; FE News; Inside Housing: Coverage of 100 organisations across the UK, including BASW, joining together in urging the Government not to go ahead with the planned £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit – online 

AUGUST 2021

• England PO Rebekah Pierre defends social workers on BBC Look North (Yorkshire TV) by providing context on how they come to delicate decisions in fostering and adoption, with foster carers included in the process, following a story of a fostering couple in Yorkshire criticising social services – TV 25/08/2021 
• Government launches £12.7m tender for ‘more consistent’ delivery of ASYE scheme – Community Care; England PO Rebekah Pierre says current system is a “postcode lottery” and urges ASYE social workers to be involved in any new design for delivery – online 
• Social work students quitting courses and visiting food banks amid seven-year bursary freeze – Community Care; BASW’s Student Group air their frustrations over delays and real-time shrinkage in bursary fees, as well as revealing the negative impact they have on students – online 
• BASW shocked by number of inadequate social care providers – Social Care Today; Coverage of BASW’s reaction to recent failings at mental health units and hospital settings – online 
• Social workers feel misrepresented by care review, BASW warns – Community Care; BASW takes the lead in a report surmising the reactions from the social work sector to the Case for Change care review – online 
• Scottish Government proposes National Social Work Agency – Community Care; Coverage of SASW national director Alison Bavidge comments that changes could bring “significant opportunities” for social workers and address the current imbalance in responsibility at fitness to practice panels – online 
• CQC closes Staffordshire inpatient unit after finding unsafe living conditions and patient abuse – Learning Disability Today; Report includes BASW’s reaction that unsafe environments and the use of restraint should always be seen as a failure of the system and care – online 
• Black children’s social workers more positive about work environment than colleagues, finds survey for DfE – Community Care; BASW’s anti-racism lead Shantel Thomas refutes Government findings, emphasising our own research and anecdotal feedback suggests minority social workers are not satisfied with workplace cultures and were more at risk on the frontline during Covid – online 
• Social Work vacancies at a record high – My Social Work News; Reflecting on the figures, SWU’s John McGowan urges creative work to keep and recruit social workers and highlights BASW/SWU’s Working Conditions campaign as a marker for change – online
• Sector split on unregulated placements overhaul as under-16s ban looms – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s views and its members consultation’s recommendations on this complex area of work – online 

JULY 2021

• ADCS president suggests national pay rates for agency social workers to reduce staff churn – Community Care; BASW retorts by questioning whether it will simply see social workers out of pocket as they take the hit rather than agencies, and dispel myth of locums making extortionate profits – online
• Growing majority of children’s social workers feeling stressed and overworked, finds DfE study – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan said employers did not provide BASW/SWU members with the support they needed during Covid-19’s second wave, as caseloads rose in number and complexity – online 

JUNE 2021

• Shortage of infant x-ray experts ‘causing babies to be taken into care’ – The Sunday Times; BASW’s comments underline how social workers are reliant on experienced radiologists expert opinion and a shortage of them is a concern for child protection – in print 27/06/2021
• ‘We had members dying, we had members in crisis’, union leader on how Covid-19 hit social work – Community Care; General secretary of the Social Workers Union John McGowan describes the role the union has played in the pandemic, as well as the benefits of unionisation, after being re-elected to the role – online
• BASW England national director, Maris Stratulis, appears on BBC 24 News to give BASW’s reaction to the Children’s Review Case for Change report, including a call for more funding and rebuilding preventative and early help services – Live on TV 17/06/2021 and online
• End ‘staggering misuse’ of children’s social workers to allow more direct work, says care review – In an article covering the Case for Change report from the Children’s Review, many organisations reactions are reported on, including BASW saying a “a holistic national approach to looking after children, one that includes welfare, benefit policies, employment opportunities and housing solutions” is missing from the review – online 
• ‘We had members dying, we had members in crisis’ – union leader on how Covid-19 hit social work – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan describes the role the union and BASW has played in the pandemic, as well as the benefits of unionisation, after being re-elected as General Secretary – online 
• 10 years on from Winterbourne View: lessons for social workers – Community Care; In an op-ed from two adult social workers, BASW’s Homes not Hospitals is referenced as an advice tool in hospital discharges – online 
• Covid: Social workers fear a 'generation of traumatised children' – BBC News; BASW provides context why a 20% drop in child-care proceedings in Wales isn’t a good thing and how this is reflected across the UK, adding concern about missing families and a callout for more social workers and outreach workers to service increased caseloads and demand – across BBC online; TV and BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio London
• Cafcass scheme raises concerns – Children & Young People Now; BASW’s Gavin Moorghen calls for robust support for newly qualified social workers joining Cafcass’ new training programme, raising concerns about the tough environment of family courts – in print 02/06/2021

MAY 2021

• In a The Times investigation piece looking at vulnerable children who repeatedly go missing, BASW member Minnie provides a case study to show how social workers try to safeguard children but how hard the job can be – in print 28/05/2021
• On the day Commons Health and Social Care Committee report on The Government’s White Paper proposals for reform of Health and Social Care, BASW’S Liz Howard appears on BBC News to emphasise the crucial role of social workers in upholding the rights of vulnerable adults – TV/online 14/05/2021 
• BASW member Andy Tutte guest joins BBC Radio Merseyside to explain how the pandemic, following years of austerity, has impacted social work by increasing caseloads and creating a knock-on effect across practice – radio/online 13/05/2021
• White children’s leaders ‘must play bigger role’ in tackling racial inequalities in management – Community Care; BASW provides a voice in this article looking at ADCS’ research showing the disparity of black and ethnic minorities in leadership positions, stating more needs to be done and highlighting our own anti-racist work – online 
• The post-pandemic legal challenges facing care providers – carehome.co.uk; In an article looking at the impact of Covid on the most vulnerable, elderly people in the UK, as well as care staff, BASW’s research on the impact on social workers is noted – online 
• Children’s social work case complexity has increased due to Covid, councils tell DfE – Community Care; BASW comments on how we’ve regularly raised the issues of rising caseloads and increasing complexity of cases due to Covid over the past year, and that the Government needs to invest in children’s social care urgently – online 

APRIL 2021

• Why we need new guidance to tackle rising domestic violence – Children & Young People Now; A blog from BASW PO Rebekah Pierre on the reasons behind our launch of a new guide for working with domestic abuse, with a greater focus on ethnic minorities, LGBTQ and disability communities – online 
• The language of children’s services – Children & Young People Now; In an extensive look at terminology, jargon and thier effects on young people, BASW PO Gavin Moorghen emphasises the need for simpler language and points out our 80-20 campaign’s top tips for relationship-based practice – online 
• The Welsh towns where 1 in 44 children are cared for by the state – The Sunday Times and Wales Online; BASW Cymru national director Allison Hulmes provides context around poverty and lack of services to explain high children in care rates in parts of Wales, but also says social work needs to be less risk adverse – online, (1) 
• New domestic abuse guidance for social workers – Social Care Today; Coverage of BASW England’s new domestic abuse guidance, which has a greater focus on ethnic minorities, LGBTQ communities and people with disability – online 
• Covid-19: Care leaver 'let down' by Bradford Council – BBC Yorkshire TV News & Online; In a regional piece about a young care-leaver feeling abandoned during the pandemic due to withdrawn support, PO Rebekah Pierre empathises, while providing the bigger picture of massive demand for a workforce hit by Covid and depleting resources – TV and online
• The reports and investigations set to shape direction of Care Review – Children & Young People Now; PO Gavin Moorghen says a relationship-based approach should shape the review – in print 01/04/2021
• The ‘forgotten frontline’ – Labour Research; A full write up of BASW’s COVID-19 survey of social workers and its findings, including comments from CEO Ruth Allen of social work being a ‘forgotten frontline’ – in print 01/04/2021
• Caseloads have got less manageable for children’s social workers under Covid, survey finds – Community Care; BASW PO Gavin Moorghen and SWU’s John McGowan warn about the consequences from having a “burnt out” workforce and say the Government must listen to social workers’ concerns on rising caseloads – online 

MARCH 2021

• Wiltshire’s Amazing Social Workers given national recognition – Wiltshire Gazette; Coverage of twenty of Wiltshire Council’s adult and children’s social workers being recognised in our ‘Amazing Social Workers’ campaign during World Social Work Month as a collective celebration of all social work – online 
• ‘Deeply worrying’ age assessment changes will increase risks to child asylum seekers – Community Care; Coverage of concerns from charities and BASW England, as we say the changes raise “more questions than they answer”, specifically questioning the role and methods of the proposed National Age Assessment Board – online 
• Social workers playing a vital role – Worcester Observer, Droitwich Standard; A positive piece on World Social Work Day, raising awareness of the work social workers do and the events BASW organised – online 
• World Social Work Day backbench business – TheyWorkForYou; Coverage of a debate raising awareness of social workers on World Social Work Day by MPs in Westminster, a debate lobbied for by BASW – online 
• Social workers have been the “forgotten frontline” during the Covid-19 crisis – Alex Cunningham MP; A blog from Labour’s Alex Cunningham MP hailing the work social workers are doing during the Covid-19 crisis – online 
• Karin Smyth MP hails social workers as the “forgotten frontline” during the pandemic – Karin Smyth MP; Another MP, Bristol South’s Karin Smyth hails the work social workers have done in the past year, labelling the sector as the “forgotten frontline” – online
• How Social Work England is battling fitness to practise caseloads in face of Covid, legacy and high referrals – Community Care; SWU boss John McGowan holds Social Work England accountable for the “unacceptable delays” in fitness to practice hearings, raising awareness of the devasting impact they have on social workers – online 
• Open letter to the Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Justice – Friends of the Earth; BASW Cymru Allison Hulmes signs a letter reconsider the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill as it criminalises Gypsy and Traveller communities’ way of life – online 
• Town hall to be lit up for World Social Work Day – South Shields Gazette; Coverage ahead of BASW’s raising awareness day of events for World Social Work Day – in print 15/03/2021
• Oldham social worker on the ‘forgotten frontline’ keeping children safe in lockdown – Oldham Chronicle; Local social workers and the executive director of Oldham’s children’s services echo BASW’s recent media messages on the forgotten frontline of social work in the context of the lockdown, as well as the increasingly difficult battle to keep children safe – online 
• Fears for region's vulnerable as lockdown takes its toll on social workers – ITV News (TV & print); A BASW powered news piece including the views of BASW member Andy Tutte on the impact lockdown and pandemic has had on children’s safety in the North West, reducing resources and restricting social workers, with BASW England national director Maris Stratulis warning of stored up harms – TV and online 
• The day nine children were taken from families on Orkney – STV News; SASW national director Alison Bavidge reflects on how social services has improved and what still needs to improve on the 30th anniversary of the Orkney scandal – online 
• Time for a career change – Big Issue; Print coverage of BASW’s call for more social workers to help deal with negative impact of the pandemic on social services provision – in print 22/02/2021
• Paris Hilton supports tougher law on restraint in NI schools – BBC NI; Celebrity endorsement for movement, supported by BASW Northern Ireland, to review restrictive practices, seclusion and restraint in schools – online 
• ‘I feel robbed’: the disruption, disorder and delays faced by social work students under Covid – Community Care; In a long feature unveiling the disruption to students and ASYE social workers, BASW’s Rebekah Pierre states our position that ASYE should be “strengthened by extending the programme to allow more time to develop skills, through the provision of a greater number of allocated training days, increased supervision, and the opportunity to shadow social workers” - online
• 'What's the point?': London’s children in care feared hardest hit by school closures and lockdown uncertainty – My London.com; A feature that includes BASW’s survey results on decline of children’s mental health, and Professional Officer Rebekah Pierre’s social worker take on how lockdown is affecting fostering and routes to education – online 

FEBRUARY 2021

• DfE failure to ban unregulated provision for under-18s will leave teenagers at risk, warn sector heads – Community Care; Coverage of BASW and other organisations’ reaction to Government move, including a personal account by PO Rebekah Pierre describing the decision to cap it to under-16s only as without “rationale” – online 
• Black, ethnic minority and disabled practitioners face ‘disproportionate’ difficulties passing ASYE, says BASW – Community Care; Coverage of our call for an external regulator to ensure the ASYE is being applied consistently and in an anti-discriminatory manner, after a revealing blog from A&R officers Laura Sherdian and Lindsey Huxtable – online 
• Care review’s rejection of over 900 applicants for experts by experience group sparks ‘pain and anger’ – Community Care; A piece covering the sector’s reaction to the controversy surrounding the Josh McAllister-led social care review includes a link to BASW’s policy statement calling for the review to be deferred and reframed – online 
• Delays in fitness to practise process having ‘life-changing impact’ on social workers, says union – Community Care; SWU general secretary John McGowan warns Social Work England the career and personal harm being done to social work members from delays and fitness to practice processes – online 
• Public service – Get qualified to make an impact in your community; Guardian Education supplement; BASW PO Rebekah Pierre on why she switched careers from dance teacher to social worker and why social work is so rewarding – in print 16/02/2021
• BASW CEO Ruth Allen provides brief commentary on the extra pressures Covid-19 has put on social services off the back of cuts to existing resources, in a piece for Channel 4 News looking at children hidden during school closures – Live Friday 12/02/2021
• Ending benefit lifeline risks health of millions, medics say – BBC News; Failing to extend a £20 lockdown benefit boost will harm the health of millions of people for decades, leading health organisations including BASW write in a letter to the PM – online; Daily Mirror print 05/02/2021
• BASW England PO Liz Howard appears on BBC Radio Surrey to explain why our campaign – Test, Access, Rights – is vital to uphold the rights of vulnerable adults in care homes, why access is often denied to social workers and how more testing and vaccines is the way forward – online 
• Social work is buckling under the pressure of lockdown: government – and the public – must respond – Community Care; Further coverage of the launch of BASW’s Covid-19 survey part II as BASW chair Gerry Nosowska blogs on the key themes from the survey – online 
• How different sectors have fared – Children & Young People Now; BASW PO Gavin Moorghen reflects on how the profession had to quickly adapt and innovate in response to Covid-19 and restrictions, with mixed results and learning to take forward – in print 01/02/2021

JANUARY 2021

• Covid lockdown end will bring surge in children in care – Belfast Live; Further coverage of the launch of BASW’s Covid-19 survey part II Covid-19 survey, highlighting a rise in demand of services – online

Launch of BASW Covid-19 survey part II 

• Covid: Social workers 'braced for tsunami of needs' after lockdown – bbc.co.uk; Coverage of BASW’s Covid-19 survey part II, warning of a rise in referrals to social services and the demands being placed on social workers – BBC online front page, BBC Wales online front page, BBC News Breakfast TV interview with members *Minny and Julia Winkless, BBC R4 Today news bulletins, BBC Radion 5Live interview with Ruth Allen, BBC Radio Wales interview with Allison Hulmes
• Covid: Police with Tasers accompany social worker on visit – bbc.co.uk; BASW Cymru’s Allison Hulmes comments on the risks social workers take carrying out their duties during the pandemic, often in increased tense environments – online 
• 36 social workers of working age died from Covid-19 in 2020 – Community Care; Coverage of death toll includes BASW’s comments highlighting the risks social workers continue to take in providing services – online 
• Lewis Roberts, fostering social worker and BASW UK Vice-Chair speaks to BBC News about the challenges that social workers are facing in managing dealing a rise in demand in fostering during the pandemic – online 
• School closures could wipe out a decade of progress for less privileged pupils – Sky News; BASW contributes to a feature on the damage to children from lockdown, with snapshot survey of social workers showing referrals have risen and are higher than last year – online
• Marcus Rashford and Jamie Oliver write to Boris Johnson calling for an urgent review of free school meals – FE News; Coverage of a letter urging Government to end food poverty, signed by BASW CEO Ruth Allen – online 
• Oldham council’s Gerard Jones and BASW member Naomi Sanderson on BBC Radio 4’s World at One discuss how the pandemic has increased referrals and caseloads in an already impoverished borough, as well as how lockdown has presented extra challenges and pressures on social services – online (starts at 33.35)
• Career progression lacking for BAME care staff, MPs told – Laing Buisson News; Coverage of BASW’s peer support service in the context of BAME social care workers not having the same opportunities as others – online
• Thinking the unthinkable to support social work students in this third lockdown – Community Care; A debate between two social work managers on how to support social work students highlights the commitment and work BASW are doing in this field – online 

• DECEMBER 2020 
• AMHPs used ‘inappropriately’ throughout first Covid-19 lockdown, survey finds – Community Care; Coverage of the results BASW’s co-commissioned survey of AMHP services during Covid-19, revealing the decline in the public’s mental health as well as ethical issues in delivering services under restrictions – online 
• Significant spike in nation's mental distress – Jewish Tribune; Coverage of the results BASW’s co-commissioned survey of AMHP services during Covid-19, revealing the decline in the public’s mental health as well as ethical issues in delivering services under restrictions – in print 23/12/2020
• Before, there were peaks and troughs – with Covid, it’s relentless’: social work eight months into the pandemic – Community Care; BASW’s Maris Stratulis expresses concern at the effect Covid-19 and restrictions have had on social workers and calls for more support for a forgotten frontline – online 
• Increase in demand for lockdown mental health services – Social Care Today; Coverage of the results BASW’s co-commissioned survey of AMHP services during Covid-19, revealing the decline in the public’s mental health as well as ethical issues in delivering services under restrictions – online 
• Spike in those experiencing mental health distress – United Christian Broadcasting; Coverage of the results BASW’s co-commissioned survey of AMHP services during Covid-19, with author and BASW member Steve Chamberlain discussing the findings – online 
• Social workers report significant spike in nation’s mental distress – LocalGov; Coverage of the results BASW’s co-commissioned survey of AMHP services during Covid-19, with BASW warning results are just ‘the tip of the iceberg’ – online 
• Anti-racism in social work: no more questions – just actions please – Community Care; BASW PO Wayne Reid op-ed on how social work is institutionally racist and there has been a lack of explicit action to tackle this post-George Floyd and Black Lives Matter – online
• Grooming gangs continuing to abuse children in northern England, victims and campaigners warn– Sky News; BASW defends social workers and the profession from flippant remarks by some in this piece about social services attitude towards victims of child sexual exploitation – online 
• 'It can feel awful trying to do Social Work - without the Social' – Community Care; Social Care Today and Social Work News; Three platforms cover a BASW adults member and best interest assessor’s poignant blog on the effect blanket restrictions are having on social workers visiting service users in care settings, and the need for BASW England’s Test, Access, Rights campaign – online, (2), (3) 
• Coronavirus: 75% of social workers feeling more negative about their work-life than last year, survey finds – Community Care; BASW England’s Maris Stratulis underlines the “incredible job” social workers have done but questions the support they are receiving and highlights BASW’s Professional Support Service as a tool to help the sector – online 
• Councils withholding advocacy from parents with learning disabilities in child protection process – Community Care; BASW PO Gavin Moorghen comments on how parents need to be part of any of the pre-court process relating to their children and it is vital they are not prevented from having their own voice heard – online 
• Boris Johnson should call urgent inquiry into how UK has handled Covid-19, 22 charities and trade unions say – i News; Coverage of an open letter from the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group to the PM, of which BASW England and BASW Cymru are signatories – online
• Discovering BASW's Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium – Social Work News; BASW members Pauline Sergeant and Cherelle Francis discuss why they felt compelled to join this new forum launched by BASW, and their hopes it will lead to positive change – online , (2)
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• NOVEMBER 2020 
• Regulator rejects call to extend renewal deadline with quarter of social workers at risk of removal – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan calls for an extension due to Covid-19 changing working patterns – online
• Child protection referrals surge after first lockdown as councils report rise in mental health issues – The Independent; A report on what councils call an ‘invisible crisis’ during lockdown, with BASW providing a member to bring life to the stats by detailing a surge in domestic violence, alcohol abuse and anxiety putting caseloads at an all-time high – online 
• Align social security with health and care systems and fully fund advice provision: Open letter to Government – Disability Rights UK; BASW joins a host of partner organisations in saying Government’s promises on social care reform and preventing homelessness provide both the renewed imperative and context for re-designing the social security benefits system – online 
• We must commit to promoting an anti-racist culture in social work – My Social Work News; An amalgamation of BASW PO Wayne Reid’s recent work on racism, social work and Black History Month in turbulent times – online
• A single Social Worker dad's story of the realities of food poverty – My Social Work News; BASW student member Dominic Watters gives a poignant account of his personal experiences with food poverty, how this informs his studies and a personal message to the PM – online 
• Social work leaders reveal how the pandemic has really affected the sector – My Social Work News; As part of this new community website for social workers, BASW Chair Gerry Nosowska takes part in a roundtable discussion on Covid-19’S impact on social work – online 
• Outcry over public sector pay freeze rumours – Local Government Chronicle; SWU’s John McGowan says if reports are true then social workers “have once again been forgotten”, and says they deserve recognition just like NHS colleagues – online 
• Social insecurity – Private Eye; Coverage of BASW England’s 'Test, Safe Access, Promote Rights' campaign to get social workers regularly tested so they can carry out their duties in health and care settings effectively – in print 19/11/2020
• People with learning disabilities face ‘discrimination’ as data shows Covid death rate six times the average – Community Care; BASW England’s Maris Stratulis highlights “appalling disparity” and criticises the “discriminatory” absence of any information about the deaths of autistic people – online 
• Numbers referred to social services above 'normal' – Irish News; BASW NI’s Martina Jordan and Andy McClenaghan warn of a deluge of referrals coming as schools reopen, while highlighting the innovative ways social workers are responding despite a lack of resources – in print 10/11/2020
• More councils reporting high numbers of social workers off work due to Covid – Community Care; BASW England warn of the risks to safeguarding communities effectively if the workforce is depleted, and calls for consistent levels of PPE and extra investment into resources for winter – online
• The lost children of lockdown – The New Statesman; In this long read, BASW members *Minny and *Emma provide frontline voices on the increased risks to vulnerable children and families during lockdown, including a quote from BASW’s Maris Stratulis on how government can help to counter these – online
• How Northern Ireland is protecting children at risk during Covid-19 pandemic – The Irish Times; With rising number of care proceedings, BASW NI’s Martina Jordan and Andy McClenaghan warn about hidden harms, domestic violence and highlight social workers working innovatively to adapt to restrictions – online
• Covid-19 drive to clear hospital beds left some of those discharged with unmet needs and no support – Coverage of BASW England’s survey on hospital discharges and quotes from PO Liz Howard on the need to change restrictions on social workers so they can carry out statutory duties – online
• Getting the lowdown on fast-track schemes – Children & Young People Now; Brief comment on the need for bursaries for any graduate schemes in social work – in print 01/11/2020
• Coronavirus: At-risk children in care 'monitored via Zoom calls' – Belfast Telegraph; In a piece covering social work in Northern Ireland during the lockdown, BASW NI chair Orlaith Gribbon’s provided context on increasing poverty while PO Martina Jordan highlights the risks social workers took to do their jobs – print 01/11/2020 and online
•  
• OCTOBER 2020
• A social worker on safeguarding during a pandemic – Social Care Today; BASW member Mark Monaghan gives a hard-hitting account of how the pandemic has affected children’s services, especially the wellbeing of both service users and social workers – online
• *BASW/Sky joint project part II – Kent social workers say they do not have enough resources to deal with demand – Sky.com and Sky News; In a joint project with Sky News, BASW’s polls its members on stored-up harms from lockdown showing through as children return to school. Includes print quotes from England director Maris Stratulis on the need for more investment in resources in upcoming Spending Review – online and TV  
• *BASW/Sky joint project part I – Coronavirus: During lockdown, there has been a worrying rise in the number of referrals to child protection units – Sky.com and Sky News; In a joint project with Sky News, BASW’s polls its members on stored-up harms from lockdown showing through as children return to school. Includes print quotes and a live TV interview with England director Maris Stratulis on rising demand, as well as the commitment of social workers – online and TV 
• 80% of councils have seen rise in children’s placement costs during Covid-19 – Community Care; BASW Vice-Chair Lewis Roberts urges sector leaders and Government to work together, “…if there’s a surge in referrals, then there needs to be the staffing in place, and the working conditions in place to manage” – online
• As social workers, we must do more than stand in solidarity with black people – The Guardian; Our member Vava Tampa’s thought provoking piece argues Black people are overmedicated, pathologised and overpoliced – and the profession needs to work to dismantle racist power structures – online 
• ‘Worrying’ rise in ‘inadequate’ inpatient care for people with autism and learning disabilities; Community Care – Maris Stratulis on a CQC report which highlight failings in adult social care, raises concerns about “closed cultures”, the Yew Trees case and promotes BASW England’s campaign for social workers to be given ‘professional visitor’ status – online 
• Hospital visitor ban is needlessly cruel – Daily Mail; BASW member Mike Bush’s poignant personal piece argues there are unnecessary barriers put up in the name of lockdown that have pushed people to the brink with their mental health – in print 08/10/2020, online 
• Guidance a chance to improve NHS support for mental health social workers, say sector leaders – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s statement encouraging networking and contact with peers, creating opportunities in education, mentoring and developing leadership; Chair Gerry Nosowska says “BASW will continue to push for good working conditions so social workers can work ethically and sustainably” – online
• Social Worker of the Year Awards – BucksHerald, Shropshire Star; Promotion and coverage of the upcoming online Social Worker of the Year Awards and BASW’s support of the online event – online and in print 10/10/2020
• Children’s Workforce annual guide – Children & Young People Now; Wide coverage of BASW’s support of ASYE scheme and current offerings including CPD, new mentoring scheme PSS and e-learning – in print 1/10/2020
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• SEPTEMBER 2020
• Historic motion passed to improve human rights of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities – Traveller Times; Coverage of the passing of Motion 6 at BASW’s AGM that will improve recognition of the human rights of Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities into anti-racist discourse and practice in social work – online https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/news/2020/09/historic-motion-passed-social-work-improve-recognition-human-rights-gypsy-roma-and
• 'Nine at night and my laptop is still open': social work in a pandemic – The Guardian; Coverage and reflections on the Guardian’s Social Lives online discussion in which Wayne Reid, BASW PO, was a panellist and discussed new research showing Covid-19 has blurred professional and personal lines for social workers – online
• Vulnerable children 'at risk' as councils cut services in Covid crisis – The Guardian; BASW CEO Ruth Allen warns cuts to children's services "would be the opposite of ‘levelling up’" and highlights risks to vulnerable families as councils struggle to pay Covid-19 costs – online 
• Government confirms most lapsed children in care duties will be restored, before latest legal hearing – Community Care; Coverage of the latest in the ongoing challenge from BASW, numerous children’s charities and Labour on Government’s amendments to children’s services on the grounds that they would reduce safeguards – online
• How past 50 years shows the value of social workers shaping their profession – Community Care;
  A snapshot of social work history includes the formation of BASW and how we progressed the sector on and continue to do so – online 
• 'It's frustrating': UK social workers say they lack time and resources to do their job – The Guardian; BASW CEO Ruth Allen comments on caseloads, the impact of Covid-19 and urges practitioners to be given more self-autonomy for a Social Lives research piece on working conditions for social workers – online
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• AUGUST 2020 
• Final decision made on Suffolk children’s centres – Ipswich Star and six regional titles; Coverage of BASW’s Ipswich branch’s protest at the planned closure of children’s centres in favour of family hubs – online
• Planned child protection laws under fire – The Scotsman; SASW and BASW’s Allison Hulmes call for an urgent rethink on new planned laws in child protection in Scotland that means lawyers, not social workers, will be assessing child protection cases – online
• Thousands of children from migrant families at risk of hunger unless free school meals are extended, charities warn – Children’s Society; BASW’s CEO Ruth Allen is a signatory in a letter among a group of 60 organisations written to the Secretary of State for Education, Gavin Williamson MP, calling on him to prevent children from going hungry by permanently extending free school meals to pupils from low-income migrant families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) - online 
• BASW launches umbrella company to employ agency social workers – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s new venture to give locum practitioners a compliant and social work-specific service for handling financial affairs – online 
• Paperwork stops social workers helping children – The Times; Responding to coverage of the Government’s own research, BASW’s Maris Stratulis said overly bureaucratic systems and inadequate IT were forcing many to leave and called for dedicated social workers to get the support they need, while a BASW member provides a case study – online and in print 10/08/2020
• Social workers feel ‘powerless’ in face of poverty afflicting families – Community Care, and Gov Speak; BASW guide outlining how social workers can tackle poverty is mentioned in piece highlighting how poverty is affecting the effectiveness of social work practice – online, (2) 
• Black and ethnic minority social workers disproportionately subject to fitness to practise investigations – Community Care; Social Work England promises change, as BASW’s Lien Watts, states we “support a formal process of collating data around this issue, which could potentially shed more light on any potential bias in the sector” – online 
• Tackling criminal exploitation – Children & Young People Now; A report criticises the lack of support for victims of CCE, but BASW’s Gavin Moorghen rejects the view that social services are the weak link. "There are excellent examples of social workers protecting children from CSE” – in print 02/07/2020
• Joined up work and training for professionals is key – Children & Young People Now; BASW’s Gavin Moorghen discusses CCE and CSE, saying the training on offer for social workers can be a bit of a "mixed bag" – in print  02/07/2020
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• JULY 2020 
• Children's centre closures will `reduce safe spaces'' say social workers; Ipswich Star; BASW’s Suffolk branch says those buildings represent safe spaces for families and need to stay – online, with six other titles publishing too
• Social workers experiencing rising stress and workloads on eve of Covid, finds DfE study – Community Care; BASW responds to the findings saying "yet another reminder of the toll that long hours, high caseloads and poor working conditions is taking on a workforce” – online 
• Lemn Sissay: ‘I used to be a rebel; I’m now a rebel with a mortgage’; The Sunday Times – Lemm Sissay talks about his life, including his activities during the pandemic where he gave a keynote address at BASW’s 50th anniversary virtual festival – in print 19/07/2020
• Black Lives Matter and Everything in between; Jason Liosatos Outside The Box podcast – BASW PO Wayne Reid is interviewed about his thoughts on the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement – online 
• Times letters: Lift This Limit; The Times – BASW Northern Ireland join a number of other signatories in penning a letter calling for the Government to lift the two child limit for Universal Credit to help all children thrive – in print 17/07/2020
• How to promote an anti-racist culture in social work; Community Care – In Op-ed, BASW PO Wayne Reid sets out his advice for social work leaders in tackling racism within their organisations and the profession as a whole – online 
• Black Lives Matter: Then, Now & Always; Now Then magazine and Working Class Academics.co.uk – An Op-ed by BASW PO Wayne Reid as part of a conference organised by Working Class Academics, following the brutal murder of George Floyd – online, (2)
• SWU member Carys Phillips joins TalkRadio to highlight the pressures on UK social workers and how they have been exacerbated by Covid-19 and the pandemic – online 
• Minister pledges to reinstate most children in care duties; Community Care – BASW England argue the changes are unnecessary and may do harm to children and dismiss Government claims that the changes were brought in response to calls from sector leaders – online
• Less than a fifth of children with a social worker attend school; The Londoner – BASW PO Rebekah Pierre warns of the increased risk to children from domestic violence, gangs and poverty – online
• Social World Podcast; episode 94 Black Lives Matter – David Niven invites BASW PO Wayne Reid onto his show to discuss Black Lives Matter and its roots in social justice – online 
• Third of social workers considering quitting profession – Community Care; Respondents to SWU poll report worsening mental health, the need to provide their own PPE and significant concerns about referral spike – online
• SWU’s John McGowan and a BASW/SWU member discuss the issues and challenges surrounding social work bought on by the pandemic on BBC Radio Suffolk – online (starts 11:12am)
• Changes to children’s centres – Lowestoft Journal; BASW is cited in a local opinion piece over
  concerns for both adults and children in families after potential closures of “life changing” Children's Centres – print 03/07/2020
• Centres are vital for well-being of families – Bury Free Press; BASW provides information and concerns for a piece from local Councillor Diane Hind on the importance of children and families centres, and the risks of cutting further services after the pandemic – print 02/07/2020
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• JUNE 2020
• Systemic factors have driven social worker risk-taking during pandemic – Community Care;
  New research from Birmingham University mirrored key messages from BASW's own Covid-19 survey, says national director Maris Stratulis, and reinforces that there is regional and local variation at a systems and leadership level – online 
• The Value of Social Work – On Probation (Blog); BASW’s Code of Ethics is cited in arguing for being "focused on problem solving and change" and holding up social justice and human rights – online 
• Four ways the Covid-19 crisis will transform UK social work – The Guardian; A blog from BASW CEO Ruth Allen on BASW’s 50th birthday, in which she maps out the future of social work in the context of Covid-19 – online 
• BASW at 50: `given what we can achieve with 21,000 members think what we could do with 100,000' – Community Care; On BASW’s 50th birthday, CEO Ruth Allen sets out her plans for developing the organisation as the practitioners' voice and source of support and development – online 
• Charity reports lockdown jump in foster care referrals – The Independent; BASW member Lewis Roberts speaks to The Independent on seeing more families struggling as lockdown takes its toll – leaving more children at risk. He explains that the delays in family court proceedings also meant youngsters were spending longer periods in high-risk situations – in print 23/06/2020
• BASW PO Gavin Moorghen balances evidence-based needs and the effects of austerity as he gives a social worker’s perspective on BBC Radio 5 Live’s discussion about new research showing an increasing number of children are taken into care from birth – online
• Black Lives Matter: social work must respond with action – not platitudes – CommunityCare; There has been a weak response from social work leaders to George Floyd's killing. Practitioners must re-evaluate their roles to act as effective allies for people from Black and ethnic minority groups, says BASW’s Wayne Reid – online
• Calls for ministers to provide ''leadership and clarity'' on childcare – The Irish News; BASW adds its voice with others calling for health and social care ministers to show leadership –online
• Children and Young Persons – They Work For You; Report on MPs debates on legislation changes to safeguarding children. MP Tim Loughton states The Children 's Commissioner, ADCS and BASW were not consulted – online
• MPs vote against scrapping controversial relaxation of children in care duties – Communitycare; Report includes BASW’s opposition that the changes are unnecessary and may do harm to children, and that they could pave the way for permanent weakening of safeguarding – online
• Data groups help councils in hunt for vulnerable – Financial Times; BASW member Steve Liddicott contributes to piece on algorithms and data-tech use in identifying potential COVID-19 sufferers amongst vulnerable groups – in print 10/06/2020
• Hansard Commons Sitting – Discussion on children and young persons; Evidence of BASW’s influencing work and lobbying as MPs raise concerns from BASW and other stakeholders on the statutory changes to safeguarding children the Government are pushing through at speed – online 
• Eighteen ex-social workers recruited from temporary register – Communitycare.co.uk; The need to learn lessons from the campaign was raised by BASW England national director Maris Stratulis. "It is really important that the sector learns why ‘The Social Work Together' campaign has had minimal impact.” – online
• Children's charity launches legal bid to quash relaxation of children in care duties – Communitycare.co.uk; Coverage of BASW’s – and partners – objection to recently introduced statutory instruments that have in our view, significantly diluted of child safeguarding duties – online 
• Engage: Looking after your mental health during pandemic – Care Appointments (Web);
  Coverage of BASW CEO Ruth Allen call for ‘strategies should be put in place to mitigate the threat to psychological, social and spiritual health posed by the coronavirus' – online 
• DfE facing legal challenge over children in care plans – The MJ (Municipal Journal)
  BASW joins other organisations in urging the Government to withdraw the statutory instrument, which it says 'risks the welfare and rights of children' – in print 01/06/2020
•  
• MAY 2020 
• Young people’s mental health suffering during lockdown, says charity – The Voice; BASW co-signs a letter from YoungMinds to the government calling for action to limit the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children as a survey reveals widespread concerns among parents and carers – online 
• Charity blasts legislation relaxing duties to children in care – Seniors Housing Weekly News; BASW adds its  voice to the response to changes, warning "hard won rights in law are not simply bureaucratic processes but exist to protect children and young people and promote their well-being" – print 20/05/2020
• “No hand sanitiser, no procedures”: Social workers on protecting children in the pandemic – New Statesman; BASW’s Andy Gill and members tell their experiences of working on the frontline with no PPE and a lack of national guidance – online
• Social workers with no PPE shut out – Sunday Mirror; BASW provides a member to discuss how a lack of a regular supply of PPE is limiting safeguarding capability, while SWU’s Carol Reid highlights how austerity has left services less able to deal with the fallout from the pandemic – in print 17/05/2020
• BASW member *Honor from London on BBC Radio 5 Live is joined by Barnando’s in a discussion highlighting the challenges in safeguarding vulnerable children during a lockdown when direct contact is limited – online 
• Heroic young social carers fast- tracked to join key workforce – Irish News (Belfast); BASW NI’s Carolyn Ewart thanked the students and pledged to support them. "Now, more than ever, newly qualified social workers will face testing scenarios” – in print 13/05/2020
• Covid-19 pandemic: We have failed the care sector in Northern Ireland, says Human Rights Commissioner – VIEW Digital; BASW NI’s Carolyn Ewart highlights the risks "posed by failure to conduct thorough inspections into standards of care" and that regulatory inspections by the RQIA should recommence – online
• Grave concerns over low income families: letter to First Minister – North Edinburgh News; SASW’s Alistair Brown joins a host of charities and organisations in signing a letter spelling out concerns for the most vulnerable in society to Scotland’s First Minister – online
• If U.K. Schools Reopen, Will the Students Return? – New York Times (UK edition); BASW members explain some of the difficulties assessing vulnerable children, especially over videos such as potential “coercing of a situation off camera” – online 
• 10 social workers have died from Covid-19, official figures show – Community Care; In response to the government's plan for easing the lockdown, BASW and SWU said "Social workers need to know that they will be protected at work” – online
• BASW England’s Rebekah Pierre on BBC Radio Somerset discusses the challenges facing social workers during the pandemic and how the sector is bracing itself for a rise in referrals post-lockdown – online 
• Social workers brace for a surge in child protection referrals when schools re-open – The Independent; SWU’s John McGowan calls on the Government to adequately fund social services to deal with expected rise in demand post-lockdown – online 
•  
• APRIL 2020
• Child abuse calls are down 20% – BBC online, BBC R4 Today, BBC Breakfast news; BASW Cymru’s Allison Hulmes adds a social worker perspective to the increased risk to vulnerable children as a result of lockdown, as well as calling for more PPE for social workers – online, TV and radio
• Fears Kirklees'' vulnerable children at risk as social services job posts left empty – Dewsbury Reporter; Local coverage of SWU’s John McGowan warning over the vacancy rate for social workers before coronavirus was too high, and now will get worse due to the effects of the outbreak – online
• The personal stories of more than 130 of those who have died in the Covid-19 pandemic – The Guardian; A tribute to a social worker who died from COVID-19 is included, along with a message from BASW CEO Ruth Allen on the tireless work done at increased risk by social workers – online
• Charities urge DfE to change ''misleading'' Covid-19 care leavers guidance – Children & Young People Now; Government advice states that PPE is not required unless the people being visited are "symptomatic of coronavirus or have a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus", despite BASW, which has also signed the letter, advising social workers to treat home visits as a "high-risk Covid-19 situation" – online 
• Expert Comment: What does COVID-19 mean for UK child safeguarding practice? – University of Kent; Organisations supporting professionals will be aware of these increasing pressures and some, such as BASW, the British Association of Social Workers, are keen to identify the impact of COVID-19 upon their workforce. BASW's online survey is evidence of this – online
• Social workers ‘under pressure to be unsafe’ – Local Government Chronicle; BASW’s Andy Gill says the 1,600 responses to a survey of members shows huge concern over the availability of PPE and how to use it, and calls for national guidance to “catch up with that reality” – online
• Keeping district's children safe is ''our top priority'', says council boss – Telegraph & Argus; Local council bosses respond to social worker shortage warnings from SWU’s John McGowan during the pandemic – online
• 'We have put our lives at risk for the greater good': Sheffield social worker and coronavirus survivor calls for public support – Sheffield Star; BASW backs the call from social worker recovering from coronavirus asking members of the public to show their appreciation for her colleagues who put themselves at risk daily to help children and vulnerable people – online
• Vacant posts spark worries children could be at risk in Wigan care system – Wigan Evening Post; More local coverage of BASW and SWU’s warning over social work shortages and staff pressures that existed pre-virus outbreak and now are worsening – online 
• Coronavirus impact on nation's mental health – The Times; Coverage of a co-signed letter to the Times on the effects the virus and the subsequent lockdown are having on the population, especially those suffering mental health disorders – in print 09/04/2020
• Almost a quarter of child social services jobs unfilled in Redbridge – Ilford Recorder; SWU’s John McGowan, said social workers are already struggling with the effects of the outbreak, with many off sick or in self-isolation – online 
• Covid-19: children''s social care guidance criticised for `unlawfulness'' and approach to PPE – Community Care; "PHE guidance overall does not advise ‘in case' use of PPE to deal with asymptomatic risk," said the letter from association chair Gerry Nosowska and chief executive Ruth Allen – online
• BASW helps shape, and provides a member voice, for a BBC Newsnight program on the increased risks the coronavirus and isolation poses to vulnerable children and the extra challenges facing children and families social workers - online (08/04/2020)
• Councils' pandemic fight is hampered by central micromanagement – The Guardian; Coverage of BASW’s call for PPE for social workers and social care workers, and our warnings about escalating caseloads and demand while the workforce is depleting – online 
• More than 70% of children’s social workers struggled with caseloads on eve of Covid-19 crisis, survey reveals – Community Care; BASW and SWU comment on how COVID-19 is exacerbating the already-high pressures on workforce, making it much more difficult for practitioners to do their job – online 
• Newport AM John Griffiths calls for support for vulnerable – South Wales Argus; Coverage of Wales Anti-Poverty Coalition’s letter co-signed by BASW Cymru calling on Welsh Government to look after the most vulnerable people in society during the COVID-19 crisis – online 
• Coronavirus: Fears over social worker sickness levels – Dorset Echo; Local coverage of the call from SWU’s John McGowan for more recognition of social workers and the risks they are taking during the virus as they continue delivering services in communities – online 
• Social work teams depleting due to coronavirus, warns BASW as it calls for priority testing for practitioners – Community Care; Ability to assess infection among social workers urgently needed to keep statutory services running, says association chair Gerry Nosowska – online
• Almost a fifth Essex's child social services jobs unfilled before coronavirus outbreak – Epping Forest Guardian; Local coverage of SWU’s John McGowan call for urgent extra funding for more social workers to meet increased demand especially as the sector is already struggling with the effects of the outbreak, with many off sick or in self-isolation – online
• 'I can't know the children are safe': social workers' fears over lockdown – Guardian; David Brindle lays bare the reality of frontline children’s social work during coronavirus, with BASW members sharing their experiences and BASW CEO Ruth Allen calling for better national guidance – online
• Children across Dorset could be at increased risk – Bournemouth Daily Echo; Local coverage of SWU’s John McGowan warning that social workers are struggling with the effects of the outbreak, with many off sick or in self-isolation – online
• BASW makes fresh plea for PPE as social worker dies from Covid-19 – Children & Young People Now; Social work leaders have reiterated calls for teams to be issued with personal protective equipment (PPE) after an employee at a London council died from coronavirus – online
• Key and home workers struggling with childcare, poll reveals – People Management Online; SWU’s John McGowan gives an insight into social workers, as key workers, being forced to decide between not going to work or leaving their children at risk of the virus – online
• Failed placements, online lectures and uncertain futures: Covid-19''s impact on social work students – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s ongoing survey of how the impact of the crisis on the profession raises concerns of how students are being treated – online
• Call for social workers to be recognised for work during coronavirus outbreak –Wiltshire Gazette & Herald; Local coverage of SWU calling on urgent cash injection for child services, as well as personal protective equipment (PPE) during the pandemic – online
• Our friends in need – The MJ (Municipal Journal); Gerry Nosowska, Chair of BASW, pens a letter  on how local government is at the heart of our country's response to COV1D-19, and social workers are central to supporting children, families and adults – in print 01/04/20

• Coronavirus crisis: Increasing testing is ''top priority'', Cabinet Minister insists – Daily Express; Social workers last night became latest frontline workforce to beg for PPE. In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the British Association of Social Workers said its staff lacked even basic hand sanitiser – online

MARCH 2020* (Coronavirus outbreak)

• BASW CEO Ruth Allen discusses the findings of our survey of social workers’ experiences during the pandemic on BBC 5 Live, accompanied by BASW social worker members providing their direct frontline stories – online 
• Social worker one of two employees at council to die after contracting Covid-19 – Community Care; A social worker at a London borough has died after being infected with coronavirus, BASW’s condolence statement and call for PPE is covered – online 
• Lockdown proving hard on social services across Wiltshire – Wiltshire Times, Gazette & Herald; SWU General Secretary, John McGowan, speaks to local papers to warn that social workers are already struggling with the effects of the outbreak, with many off sick or in self-isolation, and also comments a rise in caseloads before the virus started – online (1), (2)
• Covid-19: AMHPs’ protective equipment needs not sufficiently considered, warn sector leaders – Community Care; BASW CEO Ruth Allen raises concerns about how a stretched workforce will deal with further depletion through self-isolation, sickness and carry out Mental Health Act assessments – online
• BASW’s chair of mental health PPEG, Claire Barcham, on BBC News at Nine discusses the increased risks to people suffering mental health disorders and/or stress during isolation and how mental health social workers are trying to work around the barriers of lockdown 30/03/20 [link to follow]
• BASW CEO Ruth Allen joins BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to discuss the findings from our survey of over 1400 social workers, including the risks to them and people using services, lack of the right equipment and guidance and the extra challenges in trying to safeguard vulnerable people 30/03/20 - online
• Covid-19: lack of pandemic protocols leaves social work playing catch-up, warns BASW chief – Community Care; Too little 'thinking the unthinkable' at the highest levels has left the sector 'starting from a long way back', says Ruth Allen as social workers call for consistent national guidance around coronavirus – online
• Coronavirus: Social workers forced to make ‘DIY protection kits’ for visits – Children & Young People Now; A BASW survey found that social workers are having to make their own DIY safety kits for visits, often using water, bowls and soap – online
• Social workers isolation fears – The MJ (Municipal Journal); A survey of social workers about the impact of coronavirus by BASW has warned that family abuse, neglect and domestic violence may increase with school closures – in print 26/03/20
• BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen on BBC News at Nine calls for social workers to have the right personal protective equipment (PPE) and highlights how hard the job has become – and the increased risks – in a climate of isolation, especially in children’s services 25/03/20 [link to follow]
• Social workers ‘urgently’ need hand sanitizer, survey reveals – Local Gov; A survey of 1400 social workers by BASW has revealed their two biggest concerns are the lack of personal protective equipment and guidance on how to safeguard vulnerable children and families effectively during a lockdown – online
• Southend social workers could be asked to visit people with coronavirus – Southend Advertiser; Local media highlights risks to social workers from BASW’s survey and carry CEO Ruth Allen’s quotes calling for them to be “afforded the same commitment for safety as our health care colleagues” – online
• Covid-19: increased isolation ‘risks worsening level and severity of domestic abuse’ – Community Care; BASW has already raised concerns about social workers’ ability to identify abuse, including domestic abuse, under the current circumstances – online
• Social workers call for clarity on carrying out statutory duties – Local Gov; BASW survey shows social workers are concerned they will be unable to safeguard families and carry out their statutory duties in the face of mass isolation; BASW calls for more information on the implications for registration – online
• Coronavirus: BASW urges more support for social workers – Children & Young People Now; Social workers will need clearer guidance and professional support and resources to help vulnerable families and children once emergency legislation come into effect, says BASW – online 
• Revealed: Frontline Social Workers Could Be Without Protective Equipment Until Wednesday – Huffington Post UK; Chair of BASW Gerry Nosowska said: “There needs to be no further delay in this and there needs to be enough PPE for all social workers to do their essential work. We will keep advocating for the equipment and guidance social workers need to do their jobs.” – online
• Covid-19: how has social work responded to the coronavirus crisis? – Community Care; Coverage of our survey launch of social workers about their workplace challenges, fears and calls for best practice. BASW statement on early findings indicate widespread about how to carry out statutory duties in the face of mass population isolation - online 
• Frontline Social Workers Visiting Vulnerable And Elderly Face Lack Of Equipment And Guidance – Huffington Post UK; BASW helps shape breaking article and announces our survey launch to canvass social worker experiences from the frontline during the coronavirus – online

FEBRUARY 2020

• Interview: BASW chair Gerry Nosowska on the future of social work – Social Care Today; In a wide-ranging interview, BASW chair Gerry Nosowska talks about recruitment and retentions issues in social work, working conditions and what is urgently needed for social work and social care from the Government’s next Budget – online
• Narrative of social workers stifled by admin needs revision, finds study – Community Care; BASW England chair Andy Gill argues this new research supports findings and aims of BASW England’s 80-20 Campaign for more support and resources to free social workers to do direct relationship based social work – online  
• SASW’s Alistair Brown on BBC Scotland says social workers are working extremely hard and that it is the failure to adequately resource third sector agencies to support the delivery of Community Packback Orders that is the reason for a drop in their use – online and TV
• Two in five practitioners now logged on to Social Work England accounts for posting CPD – Community Care; BASW England reaffirms position that the new regulator needs registered social worker representation on the board, in article analysing Social Work England’s first few months as regulator – online
• Help and support when it’s needed – Edinburgh Evening News; BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen talks about how a career in social work is challenging, but rewarding in a Jobs & Careers feature – print 06/02/2020
• AMHP workforce shrank by 4% last year, finds survey – Community Care; Feature article highlights BASW’s concerns on workforce shortages, including our work with the APPG on social work to call for a statutory minimum number of AMHPs in each area – online
• Ask the Expert – Social Work magazine; BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen answers a question on “muddled responsibilities” between children’s social workers and police over who takes the lead on investigations – online and print

JANUARY 2020

• Why we changed careers to work with children – Children & Young People Now; BASW member Helen Gormley and SWU general secretary John McGowan talk about their routes into social work and how austerity is increasing vacancy rates – online
• Rise in children involved in gangs described as real concern – Lowestoft Journal; Julia Winkless, chairwoman of the BASW Ipswich and Suffolk branch says the statistics on gangs reflects what social workers are seeing on the ground, adding greater awareness of the issues of gangs and child sexual exploitation is needed – print 24/01/19
• Council considers recruiting social workers from overseas – Children & Young People Now; BASW England national director Maris Stratulis emphasises the need to improve working conditions to stabilise vacancy rates, and calls for a smooth process for international social workers choosing to work in the UK – online
• Adoption not always best for children – The Guardian ; BASW members Prof Brid Featherstone and Prof Anna Gupta react to Government’s call for a greater focus on adoption by highlighting the harsh severance of the legal relationship between those adopted and their birth family, and how it is out of line with the emotional realities for most involved – online
• Children’s minister’s call for directors to prioritise adoption lambasted by sector heads – Community Care; A joint statement issued via BASW by members Prof Brid Featherstone and Prof Anna Gupta express “concern” at the government’s moves to prioritise adoption – online
• SWU’s John McGowan speaks to BBC Radio Kent to highlight the increasing pressures, and caseloads, on social workers, and where improvements can be made, after Medway local authority is criticised for its safeguarding of children (Go to 2:11:17 – 2:20:46) – online
• Adult social care reform – IndependentLiving.co.uk; Showcase BASW’s consultation on social care paper that promotes independent living – online
• ‘The beating heart of the team’: how personal assistants can free social workers from the admin grind – Community Care; A feature piece highlights BASW’s  80-20 campaign and the bleak ratio of case-management grind vs time with families that professionals can face – online
• Two competitions recognising the contribution of Scottish social workers to merge – CareAppointments.co.uk; The Scottish Social Services Awards (run by the SSSC) and Scottish Association of Social Work Awards (run by SASW) will now be known as the Scottish Social Services Awards – online
• Rise in children involved in gangs is 'of real concern' – Ipswich Star, Bury Mecury and four more local newspapers; BASW Ipswich branch chair, Julia Winkless, warns about how Suffolk members are calling for greater awareness of the issues of gangs and child sexual exploitation after seeing a spike in referrals – online, (1)
• Evidence must inform health and social care planning post-Brexit, or the most vulnerable will suffer – Public Sector Focus magazine; SASW’s Emily Galloway calls on personal experience in arguing for an evidence-based, rational and human approach to health and social care during and after Brexit – online
• BASW England’s Gavin Moorghen discusses the probation system and the role of social workers within a multi-disciplinary team – Voice of Islam podcast – online from 36:32 to 45:28

DECEMBER 2019

BASW NI’s Andy McClenaghan joins Radio Ulster’s Sunday with Dearbhail to talk about poverty from a social work perspective, as part of welfare reform campaign group, Cliff Edge Coalition – online

BASW NI's Carolyn Ewart talks about support packages and better cross communication on BBC Radio Foyle, following the tragic death of three-year-old Kayden McGuinness in Derry – online

Social Work and Human Rights guides launched by BASW – Family Law Week; Coverage of our launch of new resources to help social workers be at the forefront of defending existing human rights and building new rights and protections for the most vulnerable – online

The new children’s social work model aiming to increase ‘face-to-face time’ by 60% – Community Care; BASW comments on Frontline’s blueprint for children’s social work, welcoming their input in a debate in which our ongoing 80-20 Campaign has provided a strong voice for over a year – online

Social workers win top awards – Cambridge Live, Essex Live, various others; Winners from the Social Worker of the Year Awards, including BASW members and awards sponsored by BASW, are lauded by regional local authorities – online

Election 2019 – Children & Young People Now; An election overview highlights how our manifesto calls for parliamentary candidates from all parties to pledge their support for social workers and the children and families who use their services – print 01/12/19

NOVEMBER

Is it right to use AI to identify children at risk of harm? – The Guardian; Machine learning is being used to help protect children, but it raises ethical questions for BASW England’s national director, Maris Stratulis, while BASW member Steve Liddicott highlights how it could help – online

Mental health services cut due to funding in South West – BBC News South West & radio; BASW comments on short-term contracts for mental health counselling services, stating they create instability and that we need long-term funding so young people can get the help they need – online, (2)

From cradle to care – BBC Radio 4; BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen and BASW member Prof. Brid Featherstone contribute to an insightful discussion on the rise in number of new-borns entering care – online

With an upcoming election, BASW CEO Ruth Allen discusses social care on LBC Radio’s Eddie Mair show, emphasising how investment in social care and social work would alleviate pressures on the NHS – online​

Councils urged to tackle AMHP salary disparities and stress in national workforce plan – Community Care; BASW raises concerns about workforce shortages, including a report this year by us and the all-party parliamentary group on social work calling for a statutory minimum number of AMHPs in each area – online

Nearly a third of neglected children are at crisis point – Blackpool Gazette; Spire FM; Bucks Free Press; A number of local papers report on the Government’s Children In Need 2019 stats, with guidance from BASW – online, (2), (3)

The Children Act 1989: 30 years on – Children & Young People Now; BASW’s Children & Families PPEG lead June Thoburn reflects on the impact of the Act and how it’s core principals may be under threat – print November 2019 issue

Pledge to close all child prisons in election manifestos, urge campaigners – Children & Young People Now; BASW namechecked as part of a coalition of 70 organisations calling for all prisons for children to be closed and young people only prosecuted as a last resort – online

Ask the Expert – Social Work News; BASW England national director Maris Stratulis answers questions on social work stigmas and why admin support has been cut in a ‘Ask the Expert’ feature – online

SWU general secretary John McGowan discusses working conditions after a Government report on Stoke’s struggling children’s services – BBC Radio Stoke – online

Thresholds may be stabilising, as growth in referrals leading to no action slows – Community Care; BASW professional officer, Gavin Moorghen, comments on the Government’s latest Children in Need stats, and highlights an environment of increased poverty, diminishing resources and underfunding – online

Universal DisCredit – The Canary, independent journalism; BASW contributes to a powerful new film that shines a light on the devastating consequences of Universal Credit – online 

What social care bodies want from the upcoming general election – Community Care; BASW calls for an end to austerity policies and welfare cuts, manageable workloads for social workers and increased funding for social care – online

OCTOBER

Unions 'echo concerns' of Children's Services whistleblower; SWU write to North East Lincolnshire Council regarding concerns raised by social workers over caseloads, saying that they "need to get this right" or they risk doing a disservice to the children – online

Put an end to PIP and Universal Credit – Belfast Media Group; BASW’s research and messaging on Universal Credit driving more children into poverty is highlighted in opinion piece – print 26/10/19

Few social workers feel training provides ‘digital readiness’ for practice, research finds – Community Care; Practitioners tell SCIE and BASW study they want new workplace systems that prioritise relationship-based practice and augment rather than replace work carried out by humans – online

Complicating pensions – The Financial Times; BASW’s description of £2.5bn allocation to social care in the 2019 autumn spending round as merely a “sticking plaster” is highlighted in a piece about planning for your future – print 09/10/19

Challenge Poverty Week – warning about number of Scots struggling – The National.scot; SASW highlights the increasing poverty rates in Scotland and promotes BASW’s Anti-poverty practice guide – online

Call for faster action to combat child poverty – Glasgow Evening Times; BASW and SASW highlights child poverty figures and demand on social work during Challenge Poverty Week – online

Social workers using own money to make sure families eat – Care Appointments.co.uk; Food bank referrals have become an every-day part of social work practice across Scotland – with social workers even using their own money to make sure families have enough to eat, says SASW – online

Jobs with integrity – Target Jobs; BASW’s Gavin Moorghen gives a rundown of the ethics behind social work practice and why it’s a great career choice – online

Welsh social workers fear wearing ID badges, BASW says after ‘appalling’ assault – Community Care; Abuse of practitioners commonplace, warns BASW Cymru's Allison Hulmes, as woman jailed for attack on social work assistant – online

SEPTEMBER

The small social work kitbag making a big difference to children’s lives – Care Appointments; More coverage of the TLC Kitbag campaign, and of BASW England’s 80:20 Campaign to increase time spent on relationship-based practice - online

'When is it going to happen?' - 'delay' to children's centres consultation – East Anglian Daily Times; BASW and Chair of our Ipswich branch, Julia Winkless, say the delay to a consultation on closing children’s centres is "unsettling" for everyone concerned – online

Kitbags developed to help social workers talk to children – Nursery World; Social workers are trialing the use of finger puppets and a ‘talking stick’ to use in their conversations with young children, a tool championed in our 80:20 Campaign – online

Focus on socio-economic rights and avoid stigma to tackle poverty, BASW guide urges social workers – Community Care; Coverage of BASW’s launch of The Anti-Poverty Practice Guide for Social Work, designed to provide practitioners with practical suggestions to address poverty in their casework – online

'It would be tragic if they closed', parents on threatened children's centres – IpswichStar.co.uk / BuryMercury.co.uk; BASW Ipswich & Suffolk branch member Julia Winkless, with BASW professional officer Keri O’Riordan, secure a meeting with councillor Gordon Jones to protest closure of children’s centres – online

University Student Wins National Essay Writing Prize – Worc.ac.uk; Acknowledgement from Worcester University for our student member Jennie Simpson for winning SWU’s World Social Work Day Essay Competition – online

PSNI chief: ‘Children not seen as a weapon in the fight against paramilitary crime’ – viewdigital.org; Northern Ireland police chief Simon Byrne is forced to retract his comments about taking children away from paramilitaries as BASW NI’s Carolyn Ewart describes them as “inappropriate” – online

Fewer hearings, less stress and more social work involvement: how new regulator is reforming fitness to practise – Community Care; BASW & SWU’s Lien Watts describes Social Work England’s new focus on coming to timely decisions as a “real positive”, for lengthy processes create “huge stress” social workers – online

Javid unveils short-term social care funding boost in spending review – Community Care; In reaction to the Chancellor’s Spending Review 2019, BASW’s highlights the absence of a long-term solution for social care and lack of detail for struggling children’s services – online

Workforce skills for the future – Children & Young People Now; BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen argues for a return to more relationship-based practice, citing BASW England’s 80/20 Campaign – print 01/09/2019

AUGUST

BASW Cymru national director, Allison Hulmes, outlines her support for a new bill in Wales that aims to outlaw disciplining/chastisement as a defence for child-smacking; Voice of Islam UK radio – online

Social work; Children's Workforce Qualifications and Training Guide – Children & Young People Now; BASW professional officer Gavin Moorghen reiterates BASW’s position on NAAS and that our focus is to support social workers whatever their decision – online

BASW professional officer, Keri O’Riordan, delves into the highs and lows of being a social worker and why the profession is challenging yet rewarding; BBC Radio London – online

Just visiting, still practicing – OnMedica.com/blog; An interesting blog by GP Chris Preece explores the risk social workers take on duty and uses stats from BASW/SWU’s working conditions campaign – online

Social care worker arrest prompts review of teenager care – bbc.co.uk/northern-ireland; BASW provides a short comment on need for robust recruitment process – online

Social workers are scared to tell strangers what they do – thetimes.co.uk; After a headline grabbing murder, BASW provides a case study on the very mixed, multi-level relationship social workers have with society and people’s perception of the profession – online

Social work: 'I had a parent screaming foul names at me' – bbc.co.uk/news; BASW and SWU reveal levels of violence and abuse social workers can be exposed to, while calling for protection parity with our emergency colleagues – online

Revealed: Shocking scale of Birmingham youth centre closures as knife crime rockets across city – Birmingham Mail; BASW’s Birmingham branch contributes to an in-depth feature on the results of unrelenting funding cuts – online

Woman killed in Birmingham was social care worker carrying out home visits, reports say – Community Care; BASW expresses condolences and highlights risks for social care professionals carrying out their duties – online

Post-ASYE support crucial to improving social worker retention, research suggests– Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan says the research underlined the “incredibly challenging” nature of the profession – online

The Universal Credit two-child limit: all cost, no benefit – SluggerO’Toole.com; BASW NI’s Andy Mclenaghan blogs on the callous and degrading aspects of the UC two-child limit and ramifications for women and social workers – online

Public Back More Funding For Care Workers – therooftop.news.co.uk; SWU’s John McGowan says cuts to social work are a false economy and urges the government to listen to the public and invest in vital adult social care – online

Case study: Newly qualified social worker – Prospects (online and magazine); BASW member Daniel Sillman gives professional advice in a leading career focussed journal for students thinking of studying social work – online

Welsh smacking ban takes step forward – Wrexham.com; BASW Cymru’s evidence says, ‘reasonable chastisement’ argument gives a clear message that children do not enjoy equal rights to adults – online

Final Social Work England standards remove duty to report impact of resources on safe practice - Community Care; Sarah Blackmore, Social Work England’s executive director of standards, said the move came in response to organisations including BASW commenting that the clause put too much pressure on practitioners – online

JULY 

Less than one in ten social workers have workload covered when they do training – Community Care; SWU’s John McGowan, highlights BASW and SWU’s working conditions campaign which had shown “the difficulties faced by social workers and the impact of the lack of training and career development” – online

New Mental Health Act must require minimum number of AMHPs, says parliamentary inquiry – Community Care; A key recommendation from an inquiry into the implications of revamped legislation on compulsory mental health care for social work, carried out by the all-party parliamentary group on social work and British Association of Social Workers – online

Adopt social model to deal with mental health – LocalGov.co.uk; Government Business; BASW and the APPG make nine recommendations to the government in co-developed new inquiry; Social Workers and a New Mental Health Act,. – online (1), (2)

Low take-up of NAAS down to social workers being unsure of benefits – Community Care; ...the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has said that it will support members undertaking the tests, but does not endorse the scheme on value for money grounds – online

A case of cuts and confidence crisis – Municipal Journal; BASW England’s open letter urging Conservative party leadership candidates to prioritise the much-delayed adult green paper dovetails with an ADASS survey highlighting pessimism in the sector – print (05/07/2019)

How learning disabilities framework for adult social workers fills longstanding guidance gap – Community Care; Capabilities statement outlines expectations of social workers, says BASW England professional officer Becky Reynolds – online

JUNE

BASW Adults PPEG vice chair, Erin King, speaks on radio about the group’s open letter to candidates for the Tory party leadership, urging them to prioritise the delayed adult green paper – United Christian Broadcasters (UCB) – online

Kids can’t wait for new income supplement, warns Scotland’s civic society – Scottish Housing News; SASW signs joint letter to call on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to speed up the introduction of a new income supplement to tackle child poverty – online

'Duty to notify' plan to tackle human trafficking – BBC News Scotland; Alistair Brown, national director of SASW, welcomes plans but stresses the need for a streamlined process for over-worked social workers – online

Social Work students failing to get work placements – Irish Examiner; Colin Reid, chair of BASW NI, points at Brexit further affecting work opportunities for social workers – online

BASW International Committee chair, David Jones, gives a social work insight into three recent serious case reviews – BBC Radio Northampton – listen here

Social work sector must embrace technology or risk being ‘left behind’, says BASW chief – Community Care; BASW chief executive Ruth Allen maps out a joint project with SCIE to improve practitioners’ digital skills - online

MAY

During Foster Care Fortnight, BASW member Zoe Stanyard gives a social worker’s perspective on adoption; BBC Four Women’s Hour – listen here

BASW chair Gerry Nosowska looks at deteriorating working conditions and an increase in caseload as drivers behind staff shortages; BBC Radio Three Counties – listen here

BASW helps BBC Newsnight put together piece on, and calls for regulation of, ‘alternative accommodation’ for 16-17 yr olds – BBC Newsnight - online

BASW International Committee chair, David Jones, on the reasons behind Northampton’s broken children services and its predicted future – BBC Radio Northampton – listen here

Parking tax will deprive children of safe space, say social workers – The Times (online), Daily Mail Scotland (print); SASW defends social workers in the ‘parking wars’ at Scotland’s local authorities – online and print 29/05/2019

Social workers plead for parking tax exemption for 'safe space' cars – The Scottish Herald; SASW defends social workers in the ‘parking wars’ at Scotland’s local authorities – print 27/05/2019

Abused young people in Lancashire ‘are at increased risk’ – Lancashire Post, Blackpool Gazette; BASW influences several local papers to cover Government statistics on rising child referrals and section 47s – online, (2)

Government must consult on social work pressures by end of year, MPs say – Community Care; Select committee urges Government to implement BASW England 80:20 Campaign’s recommendations – online

APRIL

Union warns of deepening social work crisis in Scotland – Children & Young People Now; SASW warns social work crisis could deepen further – online

Heads of children’s services pledge after red tape call – The Municipal Journal; Children's services directors have insisted they are 'committed' to protecting face-to-face following 80:20 Campaign – online and print

Can you put a price on losing our youth? – The Voice; BASW England’s Wayne Reid writes about the rise in knife crime against the backdrop of austerity policies – print 11/04/2019

SWU general secretary, John McGowan, promotes BASW/SWU’s Working Conditions campaign on the radio – BBC Radio Stoke; listen here

MARCH

For social workers on the front-line it has never been more difficult – Metro.co.uk; BASW England committee member Lewis Roberts tells of increasing pressure on social workers – online

Support for Öcalan hunger strikers – The Guardian; BASW Cymru’s Allison Hulmes signs letter in support of PKK leader – online

SWU general secretary, John McGowan, promotes BASW/SWU’s Working Conditions campaign on the radio – BBC Radio Humberside; listen here

How and when should we use technology in social work? – Children & Young People Now; BASW England’s 80:20 Campaign is highlighted in a blog – online

Councils boost adult social worker employment – Community Care; BASW chair Gerry Nosowska on real term decrease in pay of social workers – online

Social work crisis as one in six posts are unfilled – Sunday Mirror; BASW & SWU Working Conditions research and campaign highlighted – print 03/03/2019

FEBRUARY

Under-pressure social workers facing increasing caseloads – Birmingham Mail; BASW’s Gavin Moorghen promotes the Working Conditions campaign – online

Fred & Rose West, The Real Story with Trevor McDonald – ITV; BASW member John Fitzgerald recounts his investigations in the aftermath – TV and catchup

Cuts to children’s services are pushing young people into violence – Independent; BASW member Eddie O’Hara on the perfect storm facing youngsters – online

Fund play materials for social workers – Children & Young People Now; BASW England’s Maris Stratulis talks 80:20 Campaign and the use of Kitbag – online

Funding challenges facing children’s services explored by Committee – Parliament UK; BASW chief executive Ruth Allen provides evidence – online and catchup

One in 10 adopted children goes to same-sex couples – Daily Express; BASW member Brid Featherstone uses research from the Adoption Enquiry – online

Frontline drops compulsory master's from fast-track scheme – Community Care; Academics, campaigners and BASW warn that fast-track routes into social work are potentially less academically rigorous – online

Social workers seek parking tax waiver – The Scottish Herald; SASW’s Trisha Hall demands social workers are given same treatment as NHS staff over parking waiver – print 12/02/2019

NI social workers ''still living with death threats from Troubles'' – Belfast Telegraph; The launch of BASW Northern Ireland’s ‘Social Work during the Troubles’ is covered – print and online

Emotional correctness is priority in gender debate – Sunday Times (Scotland); Maggie Mellon argues the government's support for transgender young people "has been framed as a children's rights issue but is a protection issue – print 03/02/2019

JANUARY

Care providers: Perfect storm of Brexit will risk most vulnerable – Sunday Post; SASW call for an independent evaluation of the impact of Brexit on health and social care – online

Government failing to understand demand for children's services – The Independent; BASW England’s Maris Stratulis calls for better understanding and more funding for straining social services – online

Child protection services still failing kids after Baby P death – Mirror ; BASW adds balance by highlighting rise in demand combined with cut to resources – online

The cost of living for the frontline – Children & Young People Now; BASW highlights Working Conditions campaign and survey results to show challenges facing social workers – print 01/01/2019

Cuts to social care damaging children in borough – Wigan Post ; BASW highlights how cuts to local authorities has damaged the service provided to vulnerable families – online

Social work funding and working conditions – BASW England professional officer, Becky Reynolds, appears on Victoria Derbyshire – TV 

• BASW chair, Gerry Nosowska, speaks to Radio Cornwall about social workers working conditions Dec 2018
• BASW England professional officer, Becky Reynolds, highlights the impact of austerity on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire show Oct 2018
• Coverage and commentary in the Guardian on BASW/SWU’s launch of the 2018 Working Conditions survey Oct 2018
• BASW member Dr Donna Peach on BBC Sunday Politics talks austerity and working conditions in children in care debate Sept 2018
• BASW England professional officer, Gavin Moorghen, discusses the rise in child trafficking Sept 2018
• SWU’s John McGowan talks to BBC Radio Teeside arguing for social workers to be included in a new bill to further protect ‘emergency workers’ Sept 2018
• BASW chief executive Ruth Allen in the Guardian calling for more recognition for social workers Jun 2018 
• BASW member Joe Godden blogs in the Guardian in response to call for social workers to speak up more for the profession Jan 2018
• Coverage and commentary in the Guardian on launch of BASW’s Adoption Enquiry Jan 2018  
• A BBC's Victoria Derbyshire  piece on the life changing imapct of social work featuring BASW England ambassador Ian Thomas and BASW England national director Maris Stratulis Nov 2017
• BASW England professional officer, Wayne Reid, talks about fostering on Victoria Derbyshire Aug 2017