Health Wellbeing & local Government Committee

HWLG(3)-11-09 paper 1

Inquiry into Mental Health Services in the Community – Written evidence from the British Association of Social workers (BASW)

Introduction

The British Association of Social workers (BASW) is the largest professional association for social workers & social care staff in the United Kingdom.  The association has 12,000 members employed in frontline, management, academic and research positions in all social work settings, of which over 740 are working in Wales.

BASW has adopted the following definition of social work issued by the international Federation of Social Workers and the international Association of Schools of Social Work-

“The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and the liberation of people to enhance well being.  Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work”. (2001)

As a professional association BASW is concerned to promote the highest possible standard of service for those individuals and groups who require a social care service, often at times of particular vulnerability.  Across the UK the association actively campaigns on social policy issues and requires members to adhere to a code of ethics.  BASW and continues to welcome a further) the invitation to participate in the debate relating to the future of mental health services in Wales.  As a professional association social workers main focus is reducing risk & vulnerability by working in partnership with both service users and other professionals.  In this way the best possible out comes are achievable for vulnerable people.  Across Wales BASW is aware that there are examples of good practice within joint health & social Services teams, but are keen to ensure that good practice & good working relations are maintained in any changes to the funding & managing of these specialist services.

BASW shares the concerns presented by the associations representing the key health care professionals within the mental health service, particularly the under investment in services, the inconsistency of provision across Wales & the poor quality of transition services.

Professional social workers would advocate for and work to achieve an anti-discriminatory practice.  Social workers work within a social model of impairment, as apposed to a medical model.  The social model will not only focus on the condition or diagnosis but has a more holistic approach, with a focus on how individuals react with their environment.  This model is less restrictive & gives the professional worker more options for achieving positive out comes.  BASW would argue that there has been insufficient move away from the medical model in Mental Health services across Wales.  New approaches/models are available & BASW would strongly urge the adoption of the New ways of working approach & the recovery model as a means of developing service to this very vulnerable group.

Social Work in Wales: a Profession to Value (2005) & the Strategy for Social Services in Wales Over the Next Decade (2007) stressed the need to develop a work force development plan. Central to this was the development of a career pathway for Social Workers.  BASW would want to ensure that career development would be available to all Social Workers within or employed by a health trust.  To encourage Social Workers to achieve their potential & to ensure their continued presence, social workers will need a career pathway that offers more than Approved Social work Status, Approved Mental Health Professional or a managerial post. BASW would want Social Workers within a Health Team to have access to the same development opportunities afforded to Social Workers with Social Services Departments.

Linked to the point above is the question of who will give leadership & provide professional supervision to qualified Social Workers within Health Departments.  BASW is clear that Professional Social Workers should have access to a suitably qualified professional manager that has a clear understanding of their role & the challenges they are faced with a day to day basis.

Conclusion

Social work and Social Workers are important in protecting & improving the quality of life of vulnerable adults. BASW is aware of the 4 key principles which underpin the standards established in the Adult Mental Health Strategy (2001), BASW would argue that Professional social workers can make an important contribution to raising the standards in mental health Services and Social Work values are a crucial component in their development.  The Skills, knowledge & values encompass the essential elements in the delivery of specialist services of social work, as they emphasise the need to recognise the fact every citizen in Wales can make is unique & make a meaningful contribution to communities in which they live. Social work challenges the dominant medical model, which does not fully acknowledge the patient/service user as the expert about their needs. BASW would support the change to service delivery so long as the uniqueness of Social Worker & its identity is protected and the necessary support & career pathways are developed.

Ian Woolrich

BASW Cymru Chair Person