The Diaspora special interest group

Contact Us

Email:diaspora@baswnetwork.co.uk

The Diaspora SIG Committee

• Priya David (Co-Chair)
• Susanne Machin-Autenrieth  (Co-Chair)
• Anstance Fometu (Co-Vice Chair)
• Daisy D’Silva Toscano (Co-Vice Chair)
• Yohai Hakak (Treasurer)
• Irine Mano (Secretary)
• Megan Yamiko Kapusa  (Co-Secretary) 
• Michael Nwoye (Membership Officer)
• Karina Boorer (Communication Officer)
• Katrina Williams (HR Adviser)
• David Jones (Honorary Member)

Association Leads

• Lead for Bombay Association - Daisy D'SilvaToscano 
• Lead for Malawi Association - Megan Yamiko Kapusa  
• Lead for Ghanian Association - Lydia Christie 
• Lead for Nepalese Association - Hari Bhandari 

Programme Leads

• Tricia Pereira - WREU (Social Care Workforce Race Equality) Lead 
• Vishal Udaya Kumar – UKMSW Lead 
• Edith Till – Student Rep 
• Thomas Toscano – Mentoring Programme co-lead 
• Biju Antony - Mentoring Programme co-lead 

Aim of the SIG

We are the British Association of Social Workers Special Interest Group for Overseas Qualified Social Workers in the UK

We aim to:

• Advocate for the voice and interest of diaspora or overseas social workers
• Promote best practice standards for the recruitment and retention of diaspora social workers.
• Promote the development of support networks for diaspora social workers  

SIG Meetings

The committee members meetings every 6-8 weeks but we also engage in monthly network meetings with diaspora/overseas social workers throughout the year.  The network meetings allows us to connect and share our experiences around a common theme for discussion each month.

Email diaspora@baswnetwork.co.uk for more details.

International Recruitment and Induction Standards for International Social Workers coming to the UK

In June 2023, the SIG published a framework providing guidance on best practice in the recruitment and induction processes for social workers who have qualified outside the UK. "International Recruitment and Induction Standards for International Social Workers coming to the UK."

The standards have been co-produced with social workers who have lived experience of migration to the UK and aims to ensure that international social workers have the support and training they need to be successful as social workers in the UK and to make a positive difference to their employers and the lives of the people with whom they will work. The standards have also been developed in the context of unprecedented demand for social workers in the UK, with recruitment and retention pressures a significant challenge for the profession.

BASW Diaspora Social Workers Special Interest Group (SIG) Statement on Proposed Increases to Renewal, Restoration, and Scrutiny Fees

We have written to Social Work England urging them to reconsider this fee increase and to explore more equitable, sustainable alternatives, such as:

•Phased fee adjustments over time
•Subsidies for applicants in hard-to-recruit areas
•Employer-supported registration or fee-waiver schemes

It is vital that we do not lose sight of our professional values and commitment to inclusivity and fairness. Supporting overseas applicants is not only the right thing to do, it is essential to the continued strength and diversity of the UK’s social work profession.

Read our full letter on the link below.

Diaspora Special Interest Group Support Statement - Response to UK Riots

We call upon our communities to recognise the severity of these traumatic situations and encourage all members of our community to come together in solidarity to reject hate and violence in any form. Let's work together to build a positive society that embraces the principles of equality, inclusion, and mutual respect.

Read our full response to the recent acts of racial violence in the UK on the link below.

Training & support

The SIG aims to develop training webinars on specific topics for overseas qualified social workers and their managers.  Course information will be available here.

Cost of living in the UK

You may have heard that it is expensive to live in the UK, with the price of goods and services being affected by the war in Ukraine, Covid and Brexit. It is important to control your expenses and there are resources that can help you to achieve this.

• BASW and SWU action:  Cost of living crisis 
• Citizens Advice: Get help with cost of living