Social Work News - Winter 2020

WHAT WILL SOCIAL WORK LOOK LIKE IN 10 YEARS?

SOCIAL WORK LEADERS REVEAL

IT WAS SUCH A SHOCK’ - SOCIAL

THEIR THOUGHTS ON PANDEMIC’S IMPACT ON THE SECTOR.

WORKER MANVIR ON HER MBE AWARD.

THANK YOU

Social Worker of the Year Awards pays tribute after challenging 2020 Social Work News Magazine - Winter 2020

The spotlight on your profession

Contents

04

THANK YOU SOCIAL WORKERS

06

PANDEMIC IMPACT

This year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards puts a pin in its awards element, in favour of an evening of celebration

Four social work leaders reveal their thoughts on 2020’s impact on the social work sector.

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CARING FOR EVERY CHILD

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MYSOCIALWORKNEWS IS LIVE!

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#WHENIWAS18

We speak to Madlug and the Buddy Bag Foundation about their ambition to make a difference for every child in care.

Join the community, publish your own articles, share your views, and build on your CPD with our new online platform.

Hundreds share their stories online in the battle to ‘end the care cliff’

20

ARE WE UNSUNG HEROES?

24

A MESSAGE OF EMPOWERMENT

Our new regular columnist, Social Work Tutor, tells us what he really thinks.

How BASW’s new Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium is hoping to create positive change.

02

Foreword

EDITORIAL FOREWORD.

This year certainly hasn’t turned out the way we were expecting!

It’s been a pivotal time for social work, as the sector experienced some dramatic changes, with every difficulty and concern bolstered by many and varied inspirational stories of triumphs of the human spirit.

As the second national lockdown comes to a close this week, thousands of social workers across the UK have taken some much-needed time out to come together and reflect and celebrate on their achievements during the past few months, with the Social Worker of the Year’s ‘Thank You Social Workers’ event (page 04).

We loved talk to Hammersmith & Fulham social worker Manvir Hothi about her surprise MBE (page 22), and with six student social workers from The Student Social Work Hub about their thoughts on how the sector will look in ten years. (Be warned, they pull no punches…)

On page 20 our new regular columnist, Social Work Tutor, examines the age-old debate of social workers as ‘unsung heroes’ versus ‘people just doing a job,’ while on page 27 NSPCC Scotland’s Joanna Barrett celebrates the country’s commitment to protecting children, as it outlaws physical punishment.

We also asked four social work leaders for their thoughts on how the pandemic has really affected the world of social work, and to give us some insight into their priorities going into 2021 (page 06).

Most excitingly, this month we launched our mysocialworknews platform - where you can join the community to share your thoughts and opinions, write and read articles, and interact with your peers - with all engagement counting towards your CPD. Stay well, - SOCIAL WORK NEWS TEAM

@myswnews 03

Tributes pour in from across the country as thousands of social workers tune in for the virtual event with one clear message:

THANK YOU SOCIAL WORKERS

“During lockdown, social workers everywhere were out, masks on, doing their duty.”

- BEVERLEY WILLIAMS MBE

S

ocial work is the fourth emergency service - we get a call and we have to go,” says Beverley Williams MBE. “We’re here 24/7, and when we’re not in it physically, we’re in it emotionally, hoping the families we work with are doing okay, and that our children are having a good weekend.

“Social workers rarely get the recognition they deserve, but our profession is filled with committed people with so much passion for what they do.

“I’m enormously proud to be a social worker.”

Beverley founded the Social Worker of the Year Awards back in 2006, just four years after qualifying as a social worker herself.

“I was a newbie - upbeat and proud,” she recalls with a smile.

04

“But the social workers I was coming across were deflated and overworked. I remember one of them saying to me, ‘in a couple of years, you’ll feel the same,’ and that made me sad.”

That’s when Beverley, who turns 60 next year, reveals she had a lightbulb moment, formulating a plan for an event that would offer social workers across the country the recognition and celebration they were missing.

“I decided I was going to arrange an awards evening,” says the children’s social worker.

“I was working away from home a lot at that time, so I began working on plans each evening in my hotel room.

“I booked the venue, invited guests, made seating charts, and organised the certificates.”

More than 300 people attended that first event, instantly solidifying its place on the sector’s social calendar.

Above: Comedian Judi Love joins Sanctuary CEO James Rook to host Friday’s virtual event; Right top: the event’s ‘selfie’ competition winner @bigdeefletch; Right bottom: Social Work Awards Chair Peter Hay CBE joins the virtual event from home.

In 2011, Sanctuary Personnel CEO James Rook stepped in to help Beverley grow the awards, paving the way for the creation of The Social Work Awards charity that would eventually take it over.

As the pandemic put paid to plans for the 2020 ceremony, the charity took the decision to step back from an awards format for one year, instead hosting a virtual event that would highlight the incredible work being done by social workers everywhere.

Thousands tuned in for the 70 minute event last Friday, hosted by James Rook, and comedian Judi Love.

The event featured dozens of inspiring stories, sent in from teams and individuals across the UK who have been working tirelessly on the frontline throughout 2020.

Beverley adds: “During lockdown, social workers everywhere were out, masks on, doing their duty.

“It’s not an easy job, but people don’t become social workers for easy, they do it because it’s a calling.”

A number of famous faces sent videos of support, including the cast of Emmerdale, presenter Alison Hammond, TV doc Dr Ranj, and comedian Jo Brand, who spoke proudly of the work her mum did as a social worker, saying: “I know exactly how much of a difficult job you do, and how little praise you actually get for it, so from me to you, I think you’re brilliant.”

and when we do get through it we’ll have a nice glass of wine together.”

Daughter Lydia added: “It’s been a really tough year with the pandemic and we are now going into the winter months.

We just wanted to say well done for your tireless hard work, your dedication to the job. You are amazing!”

THANK YOU SOCIAL WORKERS.

Fostering ambassador and TOWIE star Debbie Bright made a virtual appearance with her daughter Lydia, saying: “We would like to say to every single social worker in the land, you are incredible.

You are doing an amazing job.

“I know the tougher it gets the harder you work, I know that firsthand.

“Thank you and keep going, we’ll get through this. Nothing in life is forever, 05

Expert opinions

SOCIAL WORK LEADERS REVEAL HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS REALLY AFFECTED THE SECTOR What has worried social workers most as they’ve navigated 2020? Have there been any positives to emerge? And where will the focus need to be as we head into 2021? Here’s what our four experts had to say...

GERRY NOSOWSKA, CHAIR OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS

“2020 has shown how impressive social workers are.

“One positive has been the way it’s enhanced our use of technology, providing us with different strands of practice, though at times, that’s not the best means for creating relationships.

“Working was already difficult for social workers, so now, with people working away from each other, we need to ensure the support and structure is really evident, because social workers will always keep trying to meet the need.

“I think there’s been a greater recognition of the social work role in 2020 - and that’s long overdue.

“I think there’s been a greater recognition of the social work role in 2020 and that’s long overdue.”

– GERRY NOSOWSKA

“Social workers uphold key human rights around freedom from suffering, poverty, indignity, discrimination, and the right to family life. It’s never been even more important for social workers to make sure people are discharged from hospital to safe places, that safeguarding enquiries take place, that they see children in their homes, and get people access to vital services.

“The inequalities exposed by the pandemic highlight the need for good well-resourced social care, and enough social workers to do the work that needs to be done.

“There has been a longstanding issue about reforming funding for adult social care, - that has to happen.

“There has also been a long standing advocacy from people working in children’s services for better resources, which can’t be ignored any longer.

“This experience has shown there’s a will, now we need to find a way.”

06

Expert opinions

IAN DODDS, DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S SERVICES, KINGSTON AND RICHMOND

PETER WANLESS, CEO OF THE NSPCC

DAVID NIVEN, CONSULTANT, PODCASTER, AND PRESENTER OF THE SOCIAL WORLD PODCAST

“Fundamentally, social workers care passionately about doing their very best for children, and that’s a driving principle “I think the pandemic has hugely impacted the world of social work. that hasn’t changed, however difficult Social workers have found really “We’ve seen bravery, as frontline creative ways of engaging with children the context. social workers went out to do their and young people, implementing a “Remote working challenges have duty, visiting vulnerable children and system of virtual visiting that actually reminded us of the importance of adults who were considered to be at suited some young people better. looking out for one another. risk, and doing immediate face-to-face “I was really pleased with the way “I also think there’s a deeper assessments. social workers adapted, sending out appreciation for the whole of a person’s “We also got a sense of how worried direct work tools to families by post, life; balancing passion and commitment people are about what it’s stored and meeting children in parks and front to jobs, and our desire to be there for up, in terms of need. I think there’s gardens. There were stories of social our families. worry about the impact of all of this workers cycling around the borough “There was a bit of a simplistic feeling on domestic violence, and on mental and really stepping up to protect the this time last year, that, overwhelmingly, health issues, which have both grown children they were most worried about. therapies had to be done face-toexponentially, and also about the fact “I think perhaps this second wave face, and then we went into a phase that there are no extra resources to deal is tougher, because the number of earlier this year where there was an with all this within local authorities, and referrals we’ve had into our social equally naive sense that you could do on the frontline. work teams has gone up significantly everything digitally.

“However, I also think there’s a possible since children went back to school “The truth is somewhere in the middle, silver lining in that it’s accelerated the in September. Caseloads are getting and we have a lot of insight to draw on. idea of the digital age, and highlighted bigger, more work is coming in the front how social work and services can be “As we’ve gone back into lockdown in door, and the pressure is increasing. varying definitions in each of the nations delivered in the future - whether that’s “Social work is about building an ability to talk to people remotely, of the UK, it’s felt - where is the light at relationships with the children and and therefore more easily, or perhaps the end of the tunnel? families you work with. Less time with implementing smart homes for elderly them makes the work more challenging. “Resources are going to be incredibly people. These are all things which could constrained, and demand on services is help and support people to stay in their “Social work is also about relationships with going to be massive. Each organisation colleagues. It’s hard not being able to walk must play to its distinct strength to make own homes longer, which people tend to want to do. back into your office, throw your bag on the the most significant contribution. table, and say ‘guess what happened.’

“I also think technology can play a vital “With more children out of reach of role in combating loneliness, so while I “Sometimes you don’t realise how important professionals, the NSPCC helpline has think there are positives to come out of that informal support is until it’s gone. become a really important intermediary. this, we mustn’t forget our concerns.”

“Also, social work doesn’t exist in a Building on that is a priority. vacuum, and I think one priority in 2021 “The second priority is increasingly is going to be rebuilding some of those trying to get upstream of issues to multi-agency relationships.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? prevent abuse and neglect from really “I think there has been some positive work to come out of the pandemic.

“I think, for the majority of social work teams, taking hold, and figuring out how we 2021 is going to see them heads down, can make keeping children safe more people’s responsibility.” dealing with the increased workload.”

To get in touch with the Social Work News team and share your thoughts, email press@mysocialworknews.com 07

The big interview

THE BAGS THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE TO CHILDREN GROWING UP IN CARE For children in the care system, having a dedicated bag of their own can provide them with dignity and make them feel cared for. We speak to two incredible brands, Madlug and The Buddy Bag Foundation, to find out more.

their car, so it needed to be easy to store, but big enough to hold a child’s belongings.

“EVERY SINGLE CHILD IS AMAZING, AND THEY DESERVE TO KNOW THAT” Our foldaway bags are compact. They’re the perfect size for a social workers car, or a drawer at the child’s placement.

Everything is designed with the child in mind.

EACH BAG SAYS “YOU ARE INCREDIBLE” ON THE LABEL. CAN YOU TELL US MORE?

When a child sees a Madlug bag, they know that someone has cared about them enough to purchase one of our backpacks. It’s a non-verbal message of care. Consumers choose us because they believe in our message, and want to show their support to children in care.

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or every backpack Madlug sells, they provide a free foldaway bag for a child growing up in the care system. Founder Dave Linton tells us about his mission to give dignity to children in care.

WHAT WAS MADLUG’S INSPIRATION?

When I was working as a youth worker, a young girl told me that due to time limitations, they sometimes had to put their belongings in a black bag whilst moving to a new placement. This stuck with me.

HOW HAVE YOU WORKED WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO RAISE AWARENESS OF YOUR BRAND?

We have relationships with councils across the UK and have now donated over 20,000 bags. We want to spread our message that the more backpacks we sell, the more we can donate to children in care.

We also work with charities such as I wanted to create a solution - a brand Barnardo’s, and continue to grow each that would allow me to sell bags direct year, highlighting our belief that every to consumers, whilst still highlighting child is incredible. how amazing children in the care system are.

GET INVOLVED! We initially wanted to give a backpack to each child, but there is a limit to how many items can fit inside. Social workers often have bags tucked in the boot of 08

To find out more, visit madlug.com or email info@madlug.com to find out how your local authority could benefit from the Madlug foldaway bags.

The big interview

THE BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION This voluntary enterprise is making a huge impact on children requiring emergency care. Founded by Karen Williams in 2014, the Foundation works closely with women’s refuges across the UK to provide dedicated Buddy Bags for children who have had to leave their homes and belongings behind.

WHAT IS A BUDDY BAG?

A Buddy Bag is a small holdall, containing 12 essential items, given to children when they first arrive in a refuge shelter. Designed to help them feel more ‘at home’, each bag contains pyjamas, underwear, basic toiletries and an activity pack, plus a reading book with a bookmark, and a cuddly toy.

In recent months, we’ve established a network of home knitters who knit toys and accessories for our Buddy Bags.

During lockdown, a wonderful 91-yearold lady arranged for her local Women’s Institute group to knit over 200 toys.

We have now delivered 28,000 bags to children in emergency care.

HOW MUCH DO THE BUDDY BAGS COST?

Each bag costs £25 to make. I’m incredibly proud that 100% of our funds raised are put straight into these bags.

“WE PACK BETWEEN 8001,000 BAGS PER MONTH” Logistically, we pack between 8001,000 bags per month, with the help of our phenomenal volunteers. One of our highlights is our Buddy Bag Brigade team bonding days, where companies volunteer to pack and distribute our bags to women’s refuge centres throughout the UK. HOW CAN SOCIAL WORKERS SUPPORT THE BUDDY BAG FOUNDATION?

We would love social workers to share our project with their contacts. Our team is always looking for people to get involved - whether that’s making a donation, or helping to pack and deliver.

GET INVOLVED! Visit buddybagfoundation.co.uk or email hello@buddybagfoundation. co.uk for details.

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Social work community

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esigned to be a real ‘pick-me-up’ space, it will connect you with others in the social care community, allowing you to share thoughts and ideas, ask questions, reflect, learns from others, and interact with your peers - with all engagement counting towards your continuing professional development (CPD).

Whatever you’re looking for, there’s bound to be someone with a friendly ear and a solution.

ASK THE COMMUNITY. IT COULDN’T BE SIMPLER.

Your Social Work News profile will give you a snapshot of your posts, comments, likes and bookmarks. And, if you want tips on how to further your knowledge or reading, just ask the community. Simple.

FIND OTHERS JUST LIKE YOU

It’s easy to find others working in your specialist area. Every member has an ‘avatar’, a short biography and the ability to tag themselves based on their area of expertise, so our simple search function can help you find like-minded colleagues, and see what they’ve been writing about and commenting on.

BE YOUR OWN PUBLISHER…

Publish your own articles and watch as others engage with what you have to say. If your content gets upvoted, your words could be printed in Social Work News Magazine, enjoyed by thousands of readers.

SIGN UP TODAY It’s free to become a member, simply visit mysocialworknews.com to register and get started. We’ll see you there!

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Slough Children’s Services Trust is an exciting place to be.

Just a short journey from Central London, the Trust is on a fantastic journey to improve services for vulnerable children and their families.

For locum social workers wanting to explore a new way of working with a clear career pathway, Slough Children’s Services Trust is a refreshing place to be.

Why social workers love working with us: •

Manageable caseloads

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Their views count and are listened to

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New social work operating model

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Agile working supported by technology

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Excellent training and development

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Flexible working arrangements

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Use of electric pool cars and bikes

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Access to the Blue Light card offering discounts at hundreds of stores

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A great location. Just 20 mins by train to Central London, close to M4, M40 and M25

Most importantly, we offer a friendly and supportive environment. We build each other up and recognise each other’s successes.

If you have the skill, drive and energy and want to be part of an exciting journey, come and join us.

To find out more, visit sloughsocialworkjobs.com

“Since completing my ASYE programme with the Trust in 2016, I progressed to a Senior Social Worker in 2018 and became Assistant Team Manager in 2020. I’ve really benefited from approachable, experienced, and nurturing team managers. They’ve helped me develop confidence as a practitioner and supported me in my journey.”

Students speak out

possibilities and positive changes we can encourage in people’s lives remain at the forefront of my mind.”

KELLY CENTRO, YEAR 1 BA HONS SOCIAL WORK, NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

“I hope the sector is seen in a more positive way by the media and public.

“The technology we have been needing for years has improved recently but I hope that it continues to advance more rapidly.

“Most importantly I would like practice to be person-centred, and make individuals the priority without too much data and bureaucracy. Empowering individuals to make change happen with care and compassion is the way forward for me.”

We asked six students from The Student Social Work Hub for their thoughts, and they didn’t pull any punches...

BECKY SALTER, YEAR 3 BSC SOCIAL WORK, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH WALES

“I’m hopeful that if this pandemic has taught us anything, it is to challenge our communication skills and use our creativity. I hope we continue to ensure the people we support have a voice and that it is heard.

“I am hopeful that methods to promote building relationships will be stronger due to technology, whilst appreciating being in the same space as the people we want to support.”

DUANE PHILLIPS YEAR 2 BA SW, UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON

“I believe that the current class structures will continue to play a key role in the oppressive nature in which social workers have to assess and work with families. I believe this will continue to burn-out social workers.

“I predict the privatisation of the social work profession will continue to fragment workers, placing more pressure on agencies to protect the social workers who the government are happy to allow to work in unsafe conditions with little protection.”

EMMA GRADY, YEAR 3 MNSW STUDENT, EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY

“I envisage mental health services to be transformed, and for social work to be at the heart of this change.

“The adoption of a human-rights based approach for interventions with individuals will focus more on risk enablement than risk avoidance, and I envisage social work to be walking alongside individuals in their journeys rather than doing social work to people.

“While the role of student integrated practitioner is still in its early days, the

NIM AYILARA, FINAL YEAR STUDENT BA HONS, NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY

“I believe social work will continue to feel the pressure from budget cuts, staff burn-out and an over-reliance on agency staff which eats away at their budget.

“I would like to see more mental health and wellbeing support in place.

“Some local authorities seem keen on making changes, but change takes time.

It would be nice to see more ethnic minority people in senior roles of social work.”

SARAH TEALE, 2ND YEAR MA SOCIAL WORK STUDENT, DERBY UNIVERSITY

“I feel the measures implemented during the pandemic will become a permanent feature, and the use of technology will continue to grow.

“There will always be a high demand for social workers, and burn-out will continue as social workers battle to fill the demand of the services they work within.

“Funding high-quality education and work-based learning opportunities is key to keeping the services running to the capacity needed.”

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News bites

THE SCALE OF TEENAGE ABUSE IN NSPCC REPORT

The annual ‘How Safe Are Our Children?’ report uses publicly available data to analyse the current child protection landscape. This year, for the first time, the data has been analysed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The research has looked at the scale of abuse against teenagers and found that when compared to younger children, teenagers are four times more likely to be physically abused. It also noted that rates of police-recorded crime against adolescents were around six times higher than younger children for sexual offences and nine times higher for online grooming offences.

The NSPCC is now calling for the Government to invest in recovery planning and support services for young people. This includes funding for schools as children return to the classroom, support for teachers to help them identify signs of trauma, and support for multi-agency partnerships.

Find the report learning.nspcc.org.uk

BASW LAUNCH NEW PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE

After gaining insight into the pressures social workers were facing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) launched the Professional Support Service (PSS).

Open to all BASW members, the PSS is designed to help practitioners with their mental health and wellbeing. It provides up to three one-to-one video or telephone sessions with a trained volunteer peer coach, which are free-ofcharge and completely confidential.

BASW hopes that social workers can use the service as a space for listening, reflection and resourcefulness. It’s a safe environment where users can explore any issues or emotions that may have arisen during practice, reflect on behaviours, and consider best practice guidance.

For more information about the service, visit basw.co.uk 14

News bites

TESTING IMPACT OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS EXTENDED

A new programme identifying whether school social workers could reduce social service referrals has now been extended to 21 local authorities.

DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE UNVEILS FINDINGS OF BIGGEST EVER EARLY YEARS STUDY

The Duchess of Cambridge has unveiled the findings of the biggest ever UK study on the early years, following nine years of work in which she has looked at how difficult experiences in early childhood are often the root cause of key social challenges such as poor mental health, family breakdown, addiction and homelessness.

The landmark research, commissioned

by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and conducted by Ipsos MORI, reveals what the UK thinks about the early years.

It includes insights such as 70 power cent of parents admitting they feel judged by others, and just one in four recognising the specific importance of the first five years of a child’s life.

It also explores how COVID-19 has impacted the perceptions and experiences of parents and carers of the under-fives, with many parents reporting a dramatic increase in loneliness.

Visit royalfoundation.com to read the report in full.

OFSTED TO VISIT LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Ofsted has announced plans to visit local authorities and children’s social care providers to ensure that vulnerable children and young people are getting the care they need. Although the visits are not graded inspections, the findings will be published, detailing strengths and areas for improvement.

Inspectors will review how local authorities have looked after children during the coronavirus pandemic. This will include looking at how they have combined schools and social care services to check on vulnerable children following the school closures.

They will be prioritising areas of concern, but will also visit local authorities rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ to identify effective examples of great social work practice.

Full inspections of local authorities are not expected to take place until January 2021 at the earliest.

The initial pilot was run by What Works for Children’s Social Care and took place in Lambeth, Southampton and Stockport. Findings suggested that placing social workers in schools allowed for more positive relationships to be built with children and families.

As a result of this, it is likely the number of children being referred for Child Protection and Child in Need enquiries can be reduced.

The project, funded by the Department for Education, was due to be expanded to ten more local authorities. However, due to high levels of interest, it has been expanded to cover 21 new areas.

Between five to eight secondary schools in each local authority will have a social worker placed, and a further five to eight schools in each local authority will serve as a control group.

The trial will run until March 2021, and results will be evaluated by CASCADE, the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre at Cardiff University.

For more, visit whatworks-csc.org.uk 15

Positive practice

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has meant that social workers have had to adapt to new ways of working. In the midst of this, there have been some excellent examples of positive social work practice. We speak to Rebekah Pierre, Professional Officer for BASW, about her experiences of working with children and families.

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Positive practice

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HAT WERE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR SOCIAL WORKERS THAT OCCURRED DURING LOCKDOWN?

As social workers, we rely on the involvement of other professionals such as GPs, play therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, etc. There was initial concern that without these interactions, we would miss information.

Many serious case reviews have shown that a lack of communication can result in death or serious injury.

DO YOU THINK THERE HAVE BEEN ANY POSITIVE OUTCOMES FROM LOCKDOWN?

There has been a lot more creativity.

We’ve had to embrace using technology and I’ve noticed that many social workers have developed new skills as a result of these different ways of working.

There have been some huge positives for children and young people.

Previously, we had been clear on boundaries and maintaining the importance of face-to-face contact.

However, some children with special educational needs, autism, selective mutism or other communication issues had struggled with face-to-face communication. Since the pandemic, the use of instant messaging technology, such as WhatsApp, has allowed these children to open up to us in new ways and reflect on what they want to say without worrying about eye contact or body language. It was something we hadn’t anticipated, but it worked so well.

“YOU WOULDN’T THINK THAT BEING AWAY FROM COLLEAGUES WOULD BRING PEOPLE CLOSER” Another positive was how working remotely facilitated closeness with other

members of the team. We’re used to being busy but, for the first time, we were able to meet online every single day. You wouldn’t think that being away from colleagues would bring people closer, but it allowed us to collaborate more effectively.

I also feel that written work has improved. Having the additional time and space to work in isolation meant that we could be far more productive.

HOW HAVE YOU USED CREATIVE PRACTICE TO HELP YOUR WORK WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE?

I was concerned that having to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) on visits would hinder my ability to communicate and show empathy.

I created some emoji cards to take with me when I visited a young boy.

Rather than allowing the conversation to become stilted, I simply held up an expressive emoji card and asked when he last felt like that. This encouraged new conversations and as he was a very visual person, these cards helped to break the ice. I also taught him alphabet sign language. This not only gave him new skills, but made the experience far more positive.

WHAT ABOUT THE USE OF VIDEO CONFERENCING TOOLS?

Video technology can sometimes feel awkward and uncomfortable.

To overcome this, I used a variety of games to liven things up. For example, one easy game to play was ‘go-fetch’ – I would say a particular description (such as ‘something fluffy’) and then we had to race around the house finding something that met that description. It made the sessions fun and brought the family together.

“EVEN THOUGH I WASN’T PHYSICALLY IN THE ROOM WITH THEM, IT STILL FELT INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL” Another example was when I asked a family to write down what they were struggling with on a piece of paper, fold it into a paper plane and throw it to symbolise throwing away their stress and negativity. Even though I wasn’t physically in the room with them, it still felt incredibly impactful.

Video conferencing can also be a challenge when trying to maintain confidentiality. I introduced simple scaling activities with some children. For example, rather than asking how they were, I would ask them to rate how they were feeling on a scale of 1-10. They could then either write this down on a piece of paper, or they could hold up their fingers. It was about being able to adapt to new ways of communication.

DO YOU THINK THAT SOCIAL WORKERS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK IN NEW WAYS?

I think so. Our profession has a whole new environment, almost like a blank canvas. My team has shared so many innovative ideas. Some people have designed face masks with children, others have taken the opportunity to go on walks with young people. This change of environment doesn’t just promote exercise and the benefits of fresh air, but can also make children feel more comfortable compared with traditional face-to-face work.

Ultimately, it’s had a positive impact on relationships and it’s a great time for innovation. There have been many times I’ve heard colleagues say “we can’t go back to how things were”. I believe this is a real turning point for social work.

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#WHENIWAS18: THOUSANDS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF CAMPAIGN TO ‘END THE CARE CLIFF’ New campaign highlights the dangers of a care system that pushes young people to grow up too fast.

Chris at 18

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Chris today

#WhenIWas18

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hen it comes to ‘care cliff’ survivors, Chris Wild considers himself one of the lucky ones.

He was just 13-years-old the first time he ran away from the Yorkshire care home where he’d been placed in 1992, following the death of his dad.

“Eventually the police just stopped taking me back,” he recalls.

“I had a social worker, who was great, but shortly before my 16th birthday, she told me she wasn’t going to be around much longer; that I needed to think about how I was going to survive - I was 15!

“My 16th birthday came and, sure enough, everybody disappeared.”

Chris, now aged 40, describes the next two years as ‘a total void.’

Isolated, and without any support network, he joined the army, blinded by the promise of regular meals and a roof over his head.

“I didn’t want to be a soldier, I just didn’t want to be alone anymore,” he says.

“When you fall off that care cliff, you either learn to fly, or you hit the ground and die.”

Today, Chris, a married dad-of-two living in London, is an author and youth ambassador, who has dedicated himself to campaigning for children’s rights.

Chris is just one of hundreds of people who have spoken out online in recent weeks, in support of Become’s #WhenIWas18 campaign.

“I became scared to leave my room, it took a huge effort of will to cash my dole cheque and buy some food once a fortnight,” he says.

and flexibility to local authorities.

“A friend moved me, for a few months, into his mum’s house and that singular act of kindness almost certainly saved my life.

Actress Samantha Morton, one of a number of famous faces who have thrown their backing behind the campaign, said: “Leaving care was one of the most exciting yet frightening times of my life.

“Somewhere secure to live would have been useful - I had nine addresses in the 10 years after I left care, and no option to move back to my parents when things went wrong.”

“Sadly, there wasn’t the support available that would have helped me deal with the isolation, the fear, and the worry that occurs when you are left out in the big wide world to fend for yourself.”

“WHEN YOU FALL OFF THAT CARE CLIFF, YOU EITHER LEARN TO FLY, OR YOU HIT THE GROUND AND DIE.”

Through the ‘End the Care Cliff’ campaign, Become is now calling on the Education Secretary to work with charities, local authority leaders, service providers and most crucially - to listen to the views and experiences of young care-experienced people to address the insufficiency of placements within the care system.

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO for Become, said: “Living independently for the first time should be something young people are excited about, but for too many in the care system it’s something they dread – knowing they could be forced into independence before they feel ready.”

During the COVID-19 crisis, the government stepped in to protect young people from this upheaval, pledging that ‘no one has to leave care during this period.’

Become is now calling on the government to permanently remove the ‘care cliff,’ by giving more funding

Chris, who describes himself as having experienced the entire brunt of the care system, adds: “My campaigns are focused on making it law that you can’t leave the care sector until you have something else in place - a job, further education, accommodation.

“The only way the care sector, and the young people within it, will survive is if the law changes.

“I believe it’s the only way we’ll stop 18-year-olds becoming homeless and getting involved in crime, and effectively give them a chance.”

The national charity for children in care and care leavers is calling on the UK government to ‘End The Care Cliff’ - which each year sees thousands of 18-year-olds forced to leave the care system overnight.

Child psychotherapeutic counsellor, John Radoux, also recalls being left to fend for himself at 16.

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Columnist

As 2020 thrust social workers onto the frontline of a global pandemic, our regular columnist, The Social Work Tutor, examines the age-old debate of ‘unsung heroes, or people just doing a job...?’

T

here is a debate that runs deep into the heart of social work that many outside of the profession would find difficult

to comprehend.

On the one side are those who feel social workers are heroes and should be heralded for their noble deeds. On the other side are those who believe social work is an inherently humble and selfless profession, and that considering ourselves as being worthy of outside recognition somehow goes against the grain of our value base.

Those who argue for more recognition point to the fact that our profession is often misunderstood and misrepresented in the media, sees baseless attacks of ‘child snatching’, has fleeting political support, and is in dire need of a more positive public image.

This camp holds onto the hope that better recognition and more celebration of our deeds will provide a platform for revitalising social work, turning it into a stronger and more stable workforce.

People who dismiss the need for a hero narrative worry that such language risks further deepening the martyr complex that is already running rife amongst many. The argument goes that heroic deeds are often sacrificial in their nature and that pressure to be a hero results in people going above and beyond what they are humanly capable of.

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Underpinning both arguments are fair and unfair comparisons to our brothers and sisters in the allied multi-agency teams we work alongside.

Prior to the global pandemic, these arguments were mostly confined to debates and opinion pieces. However, the devastating impact of Covid-19 has moved this debate beyond the realms of a predominantly academic concern.

In the context of a national 8pm ‘clap for carers’ movement every Thursday,

social workers rightly wondered who, if anybody, was out there clapping for us.

When the death of nurses rightly made headline news, social workers were left wondering why the loss of our colleagues to Covid-19 warranted nothing more than short objective articles in the local press. With questions posed to the government in parliament pointing out the dearth of PPE available for frontline health workers, we were left unsure why nobody was pointing out the fact that we - also essential workers were still public-facing.

We had lost a lot of our free time, the camaraderie of our team members in person, the support of many services who worked alongside us - and, for some, our lives. It also felt like we had lost any hope of recognition for our sacrifices. If we could not capitalise on a groundswell of support for health and social care staff to improve our public standing, then it seemed as if we never would. Whether our work is celebrated or not, we will still be doing it. Whether anyone calls us heroes or not, we will still be going above and beyond.

Social workers might never get the recognition that many feel we deserve.

Social workers might always argue amongst ourselves about whether we are unethical for craving such recognition in the first place.

Regardless, heroes or no heroes, we will still get up every morning and go out into the world in an effort to make it a better place for those who need us.

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In Conversation

“I WAS SHOCKED TO HEAR I’D BEEN AWARDED AN MBE!” Social worker Manvir was one of seven social workers named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their commitment during the pandemic.

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In Conversation

I

t was a total shock,” says Manvir Hothi, of the moment she learned she’d been awarded an MBE for her contributions throughout the pandemic.

between her laced fingers.

“At first I thought it was just a nomination, but then the Cabinet Office phoned to ask if I wanted to accept the award.

“What I’ve done is helpful, but it’s honestly a blip in amongst everything else.”

“Of course I said yes, it was a lovely surprise.”

Manvir, who qualified as a social worker in 2012, was one of three practitioners to receive MBEs in last month’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, alongside Rashida Baig and Farrah Khan.

Manvir’s warm smile is ever so slightly self-conscious as she recalls the interaction. It’s an almost imperceptible waiver which only serves to make her more likeable.

“Of course I’m proud,” she continues, sitting at her kitchen table, a coffee cup

“But I know people who are doing just as much, and more, so I consider this a recognition for all of us.

According to the official award, Manvir sought and collected essential items and voluntarily mobilised volunteers in north London – where she lives – to

prepare and distribute care packs for key workers to hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes across the country.

She worked with volunteers and charities to source and distribute face shields, lip balms, deodorants, hand creams, and bodywashes to those on the frontline.

She also helped set up Sewing For Heroes – a group which has sewn hundreds of scrubs, hats, and scrubs bags for NHS staff and care workers.

“It started off small,” she recalls.

“Some key worker friends were telling me their hands and lips were sore, so I decided to try and get them some hand creams and lip balms.

“I emailed Boots and Avon, and a friend who’s an Avon rep got in touch to say she’d personally send 300 handcreams.

“Then Boots got in touch to ask how many hand creams I wanted. I didn’t want to push my luck, so I suggested 200, and the next thing I knew, a giant palette of 2,000 handcreams was being delivered to my door!”

As more and more donations began turning up outside Manvir’s home, the mum-of-three began roping in family, friends and colleagues to help pack and distribute parcels.

“During this awful situation, social workers have emerged as another emergency service - so many people stepped up, and we managed to get hold of so many items, and get them where they needed to be.

“I’ve always loved my job, but I’ve honestly never been more proud to do it than I am now.”

“WHAT I’VE DONE IS HELPFUL, BUT IT’S HONESTLY A BLIP IN AMONGST EVERYTHING ELSE.” 23

Diversity in social work

BASW’S BLACK & ETHNIC MINORITY PROFESSIONALS SYMPOSIUM BASW has launched a Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium (BPS).

Pauline Sergeant (Chair) and Cherelle Francis (Vice-Chair) reveal why they felt compelled to join, and how they hope the forum can create positive change.

FIND OUT MORE Visit basw.co.uk or contact Wayne Reid at wayne.reid@basw.co.uk for details on the BPS. Pauline Sergeant is an AMHP and practice educator, currently working on a Principal Social Work Unit, leading on the authority’s ASYE programme.

Cherelle Francis is a children’s social worker and practice educator, recently transferred into a new role as an ASYE Assessor/Consultant Practitioner.

T

he aims and objectives of BASW’s BPS resonate with my personal and professional sentiments; particularly the recognition that should be afforded to the efforts made by black social workers. My critical reflection, based on experiences and narratives of black and ethnic minority colleagues, concludes that negative occurrences related to race and diversity continue, PAULINE SERGEANT, and that COVID-19 has exposed more CHAIR inequalities.

The need for black professionals to address these injustices collectively is still evident. We have diversities, as well as similarities. We agree that the ongoing experiences of oppression endured by black workers should be heard. We need to ensure the realities and relevance of culture and ethnicity are firmly embedded in the education and policies which govern social work practice. We aim to tackle the extremes 24

of racism, and we all have a lot of work to do to reverse its impact.

We must consider the impact that COVID-19 and ensuing changes in the law have had on social work practice, in general and the black community.

Most importantly, we are mindful of mental health issues related to working in our profession and the associated stressors which are often worsened by underlying oppression. The social work sector needs to offer support by providing strategies which alleviate the traumas black workers experience.

We take this opportunity to encourage all black social workers to take assurance in the black identity; value in the racial and cultural nuances which make you unique, and to believe in the power and positivity of collective responses in addressing racism and discrimination.”

Diversity in social work

I

was instantly drawn to the idea of a community of professionals I can network with, learn from, and share my experiences of being a black British woman. In many regards, this is not a forum which is readily available.

CHERELLE FRANCIS, VICE-CHAIR

I BELIEVE THIS GROUP CAN EMPOWER ITS MEMBERS TO SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD, WHERE THE CURRENT SYSTEM LACKS SUPPORT FOR BLACK AND ETHNIC MINORITIES LOOKING TO PROGRESS. As Vice-Chair, I intend to contribute as an active member during sessions, getting involved in discussions and listening to other members. Everyone has a different lived experience and I am keen to learn about this.

I AM A STRONG BELIEVER IN THE NEED FOR ACTION. My pledge is to ensure that any materials or information agreed to be created and shared is distributed promptly. In addition to this, for all actions I have agreed to complete, I will be held accountable to deliver and would want this to form part of our group’s ethos.

As a black woman, the issue affecting me currently (which extends to a national and international platform) is the Black Lives Matter movement.

The negative imagery portrayed of the black community, being victims of police brutality, weighs heavily on my heart and is a subject close to home. I hold the same passion for this group and will do my best to ensure that I remain a professional representative.”

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#bettertogether

Columnist

As Scotland became the first part of the UK to outlaw punishment of children in 2020, NSPCC Scotland’s Joanna Barrett explains why that message is now more important than ever

F

or a country that aspires to be the best place in the world for children to grow up, it seemed astounding that our most vulnerable members of society were the least protected.

parented. But physical punishment isn’t an effective way to discipline children.

Families and organisations across Scotland, including the Church of Scotland and Scottish Youth Parliament, joined together to remedy this issue of children’s human rights.

Parliament survey demonstrated that Scotland’s young people – the parents of tomorrow – were overwhelmingly in favour of bringing up their children without physical punishment.

So, when the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Bill was voted through overwhelmingly by the Scottish Parliament, we were proud to see Scotland become the first UK country to make this commitment.

However, for too many children, physical punishment is still part of their upbringing, leading the Scottish Parliament to pass the legislation, and state in clear terms that physical punishment should not be a part of childhood.

And this message is now more important than ever. We know that conditions created by Covid-19 have underlined its In 2015, a review - commissioned by importance. Some children and young ourselves, and Children and Young people have told the NSPCC’s Childline People’s Commissioner Scotland counsellors that they have experienced revealed that physical punishment more frequent physical punishment damaged family relationships, and that there was growing evidence it increased since lockdown began. aggression, anti-social behaviour, and Some children were confused about depression and anxiety in children, whether what was happening to them We called for an archaic defence - which which may continue into their adult lives. was okay. allowed adults charged with assaulting a There is evidence that in many As three charities that have worked child to claim ‘reasonable chastisement’ countries, the prevalence of physical in child protection for many years, we or ‘justifiable assault’ - to be removed punishment is declining and public know the best way to help children is from Scots law. attitudes have shifted. A Scottish Youth to provide support for them and their

The campaign has been long and difficult. Physical punishment is an emotive subject: it speaks to how we parent, and how we ourselves were

With this new law, we join more than 50 other countries around the world to bring in such measures.

families.

The Scottish Government has made it’s vision clear, to make Scotland a country that values and respects every child.

Protecting children from physical assault and ridding our laws of nonsensical, outdated loopholes is a fundamental place to start.

JOANNA BARRETT,

NSPCC Scotland policy and public affairs manager, on behalf of the Coalition for Equal Protection – Barnardo’s Scotland, Children 1st and NSPCC Scotland.

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The future of social work

COULD THIS BE THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CARE? Earlier this year, the Centre for Public Impact worked with a group of social workers to create a blueprint for what they believe could be the future of children’s social care. Here, three of those practitioners - Ryan Wise, Daniel Comach and Michaela Berry - share their thoughts.

S

ince the start of 2020, our world has changed, as have the needs of the people we work with. The way we work has transformed, and it’s never been more important to prepare for the future.

In our quest to identify what a different children’s social care system could look like, with the experiences of children and families at the heart of how it’s structured, we identified three main issues with the current system: the work is too bureaucratic, too many eyes and not enough hands, a culture of command and control.

different way to undertake community nursing in the Netherlands. The team were self-managing and made a conscious effort to disrupt the potential for traditional ways of working. The reduction in bureaucracy, growth in professional autonomy and increase in the skills of the staff had a huge impact.

Results showed improved client and worker satisfaction, and a marked decrease in the cost of care without sacrificing quality. That initial group of four has now expanded to approximately 10,000 employees.

LEARNING FROM DUTCH NURSING

As social workers, we wondered how we could learn from this model.

In 2006, a Dutch Nurse called Jos de Blok and his three colleagues set up a

With the support of the Centre for Public Impact UK (CPI UK), Frontline, Buurtzorg

28

Britain and Ireland; we engaged with over 80 organisations, groups and leaders to consider what was possible.

THE BLUEPRINT

Our work led to the development of the Blueprint for children’s social care - based on two fundamental principles: that meaningful relationships are the enablers to excellent practice, and that social workers should be given the responsibility and decision-making power they need to support families.

“We wanted to demonstrate how you can change the system and not be constrained by it” The Blueprint is not a formula which can be lifted and shifted; it is a vision of how things can be done differently.

The future of social work

Change can come from individuals and teams with the drive to do something different.

The principles and ideas contained in the Blueprint provides inspiration for anyone to work differently.

PILOTING THE BLUEPRINT IN COVID TIMES

We understand the importance of positive relationships between social workers and families. Since the Blueprint was published, we have been in touch with social workers to understand how the system they have been operating in during this time has or hasn’t improved. Some key themes came through: Social workers have been able to experiment with different ways of engaging with families and dedicate more time to direct work.

Many social workers have been blown away at how resourceful families have been.

Community organisations and schools have played a key role in supporting families.

In some cases, anxiety from the crisis has resulted in a more ‘command and control’ approach to management, reinforcing the distrust towards social workers that was already felt before the crisis. In some circumstances, there has also been noticeable attempts to increase bureaucracy and process.

This crisis has reinforced the need for a more dynamic way to assess risk, rooted in the lived experience of the child.

Experiences from many practitioners have indicated just how impactful the vision of the Blueprint could be for children’s social care.

When we tested the Blueprint with a local authority, we found that time with children and families could be increased by 60% at no additional cost or changes to existing regulation. We need a system that prioritises these relationships, to unlock the potential of social work.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE

Leaders throughout the sector will need to make important decisions in the coming months to ensure that practices and structures are adapted based on what we’ve learnt in 2020. This could result in improved outcomes for families, children and practitioners alike, injecting children’s social care with a new wave of positive energy.

COULD YOU GET INVOLVED? Read full details of the Blueprint for Children’s Social Care at centreforpublicimpact.org Email katie@centreforpublicimpact.org to discuss piloting a system like this.

29

International social work

We explore why pastoral care is so important, particularly in the first 10 days of social workers arriving from overseas.

D

an Halls and Hazviperi Betty Makoni first met when he asked to join the WhatsApp BME Social Worker Connector group she runs, linking UK-based Zimbabwean social workers with practitioners back home.

With a shared understanding of the need for better support for social workers moving to the UK, they created a pastoral support model that is now being adopted by local authorities across the UK. Dan - Head of Social Work and Allied Health at Sanctuary International - refers to social work as a “global profession, with quality overseas social work practitioners who can enrich the UK’s workforce with skills and diversity.”

Founder of the Girl Child Network, World’s Children’s Prize Winner, and Social Work Practice Educator, Hazviperi, wholeheartedly agrees: “International social workers have a lot to offer. They’re able to understand the cultural context and ‘pull’ factors for many families.

“This knowledge can help the pace of action in many cases, especially where there are language barriers and immigration issues.”

MANAGING THE TRANSITION

International recruitment can also offer a greater opportunity to recruit several permanent members of staff at once.

Dan adds: “This only tends to happen in the UK with various academy programmes. International recruitment gives councils the opportunity to induct and onboard entire teams of diverse qualified professionals.”

But international social work recruitment is not without its challenges.

30

“There are many aspects to consider” says Hazviperi.

“How, as a profession, do we manage the transition into UK social work practice?”

THE FIRST 10 DAYS ARE CRUCIAL

“A lot rests on how a practitioner is supported before and after arriving in the UK”, says Dan. Sanctuary International has been supporting overseas social workers in their permanent roles at Medway Council and Swindon Borough Council with a 10-day International Social Work Training Programme, run jointly with Hazviperi.

A key aspect of the programme is guiding social workers on understanding the application of social work thresholds, and aligning their knowledge and understanding with the UK’s legal framework.

“Although social work practice in Zimbabwe is closely aligned to the UK, certain thresholds are different, and these are vitally important to get right”, says Hazviperi.

At Medway Council, overseas social workers also shadow existing staff for two weeks so that their induction training becomes evidence-based and reflective.

UNDERSTANDING CULTURAL CONTEXT

In Hazviperi’s experience, “most overseas social workers will stay in post beyond their 3 to 5-year sponsorship commitment, so it’s an investment well worth making”.

“IS MY ACCENT GOING TO BE TOO STRONG?”

Hazviperi adds: “It’s important to

International social work

acknowledge any concerns about cultural integration and acceptance.

Social workers often ask me, is my accent going to be too strong? Will my race be an issue? These are valid concerns that we talk to employers about and seek to fully understand and educate.

“Also, many people move here without their families, and have to wait to bring them over, so as part of their pastoral care, employers need to be mindful of this.”

Currently supporting over 500 professionals from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho, Dan and Hazviperi know that the Sanctuary International model works.

LOOKING BEYOND THE PRACTITIONER

One of the reasons why the programme is so successful is because it considers the whole person and not just the ‘practitioner’.

“As an employer, you need to find a way of empowering those individuals” Hazviperi says: “Some people are arriving from war-torn, economically deprived, and corrupt parts of the world. Some may be victims of abuse themselves. As an employer, you need to find a way of empowering those individuals. They can offer incredible insight and go on to be great social workers.”

With the right support and ambition, many overseas social workers become fantastic team managers and practice educators.

“We’re nurturing a fantastic diverse workforce, with 101 international social workers currently on their way to the UK, and 162 registered to work and looking for a role”, says Dan. “I am sure that in a few years, many of those will be calling Sanctuary International as social work managers looking for new employees. That’s when you know, with certainty, you’ve made a lasting impact.”

FIND OUT MORE To find out how Sanctuary International can help with your staffing needs, visit sanctuarypersonnel.com/international or get in touch with Dan directly on d.halls@sanctuaryhealth.com 31

xx

NSPCC Learning is here for anyone who works with children. You can access research and resources, learn about key topics and find training to help you protect children.

Training

Resources

Consultancy

We have a range of elearning courses, live virtual training and face-to-face training.

We keep you up to date with the latest child protection research, policy and practice, and can send you regular safeguarding news.

We provide safeguarding information, guidance, and consultancy services led by child protection experts.

Find out more at nspcc.org.uk/learning

Our free resources for social workers include: CASPAR newsletter Our weekly current awareness newsletter for practice, policy and research. nspcc.org.uk/CASPAR

Thematic briefings from case reviews Our thematic briefings highlight the learning from case reviews, pulling together key risk factors and practice recommendations. nspcc.org.uk/casereviews

Coronavirus briefing for social workers This briefing is constantly updated and summarises guidance from across the UK, for social workers and local authorities. nspcc.org.uk/socialworkers

“I feel I have more knowledge now and will be better able to advise parents with their concerns around online safety. Previously it was mostly just parental controls but I have a greater breadth and depth of strategies to suggest.

Head of Family Support, NSPCC elearning user

ŠNSPCC 2020. National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Registered charity England and Wales 216401.

Scotland SC037717. Photography by Tom Hull and Ross Bolger. The adult pictured is a volunteer. The child pictured is a model.

The NSPCC practitioner is Dannie Adcock-Habib. J20201254

Charity spotlight

Little Troopers is a charity dedicated to supporting the children of those serving in the British Armed Forces. The charity deals with issues relating to separation, identity, belonging and mindfulness – all of which are also relevant to children growing up within the care sector. We speak to Charity Founder and Operations Manager Louise Fetigan to find out more.

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Charity spotlight

C

AN YOU EXPLAIN WHY IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS OF MILITARY CHILDREN?

Children who have parents serving in the British Armed Forces can have quite different experiences to their peers.

They are frequently separated from their serving parent and will move home and school every few years or more, which can be challenging. Many military children are very resilient and will thrive on the adventure, but some need some extra support.

THE THEMES YOU MENTIONED ALSO AFFECT CHILDREN GROWING UP IN THE CARE SYSTEM. HOW CAN SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONERS POSITIVELY FRAME CONCEPTS SUCH AS SEPARATION OR CHANGE TO HELP BUILD RESILIENCE?

“THEY SHOULD TAKE POSITIVES FROM THEIR EXPERIENCES AND BE PROUD OF THEMSELVES” Having an unconventional upbringing doesn’t necessarily mean that child is disadvantaged. This is something we feel passionately about at Little Troopers. If children have access to the right tools when they are presented with challenges or sudden change, it can positively impact their wellbeing long-term. The adults around them must show understanding, empathy and encouragement to celebrate their achievements.

It’s essential they understand how strong, brave and resilient they have been; they should take positives from their experiences and feel proud.

YOU HAVE LAUNCHED THE LITTLE TROOPERS AT SCHOOL PROGRAMME; DESIGNED TO HELP TEACHERS OFFER EFFECTIVE SUPPORT TO MILITARY CHILDREN. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE?

The aim of the programme is to ensure children are offered fair and consistent support within their education setting.

We have a primary school resource pack which is full of lesson templates and activities to get schools talking about military life in the classroom.

Additionally, we have a military children wellbeing course template. This is a seven-week programme delivered to small groups of students exploring specific topics and themes such as separation, change and identity. You will be sent a digital and hard-copy meaning the resources can be used again.

We also have further information and downloads on our website, including information sheets, case studies and recommended reads.

YOUR WELLBEING COURSE HAS BEEN CREATED BY A GROUP OF EXPERTS, INCLUDING A COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY SPECIALIST, CREATIVE ARTS PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND PLAY THERAPISTS. CAN SOCIAL WORKERS USE THIS TO BUILD POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH CHILDREN?

interactively. They are taught positive ways to cope with challenges and change at home, both now and in the future. Although the course is primarily designed to be delivered in schools, we can certainly see it working in other settings. This could be a valuable resource for social workers when working with children affected by similar issues and feelings.

YOU ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH A SECONDARY SCHOOL RESOURCE PACK AND WELLBEING COURSE. WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR TEEN YEARS?

We know that moving schools frequently in your teens can be a lot more disruptive, both academically and socially. Teenagers are also less likely to speak out when they are struggling emotionally.

Our primary school resources are play-based, whereas the secondary resources offer more skills-based learning and tackle more mature themes. The aim is still to provide young people with a safe space to voice their feelings, but it allows the young people to take more control over the sessions and pick the activities or discussion topics they feel are most beneficial.

“THEY ARE TAUGHT POSITIVE WAYS TO COPE WITH CHALLENGES AND CHANGE AT HOME”

Like the primary school pack, we’d also like to share this with social workers who may be looking for resources.

Each week, the course focuses on a particular topic and the children are encouraged to share their experiences

All of the packs, resources and downloads are available on the Little Troopers website, littletroopers.net

MORE INFORMATION

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There are no easy solutions when it comes to dealing with county lines. Social worker Mark Monaghan tells us why he thinks young people are attracted to county lines and how social workers can help to protect those at risk.

E

ven during these tough times, the marketplace is still open within the drug industry. Traffickers are being more creative in ensuring that business continues to boom and children are still regularly going missing. Whilst the train stations are quite desolate, the creative minds that run county lines are going back to more traditional methods of delivering their ‘soljas’ to various destinations.

These operations are well-established and the network between the chains of command are fluid. After the initial methods of luring in young people, they move through the stages from coercion to control and we end up with the same outcome: children being trafficked to sell drugs. They are purposely led to believe they are part of something bigger. Unfortunately, it is easier to believe in something than nothing.

36

Social work circle

Promises of wealth, jewellery, partying and opportunities of sex (whether welcomed or otherwise) abound. These young people do not fully know what they are getting into until it is too late.

happening. It’s not only a criminal matter, it’s a public health crisis. Our narratives need to move on. We need to go back and challenge how we will assist young people to change.

Very few discuss the realities of being stuck in a ‘bando’ for weeks or months on end, not washing for days or knowing when you can go home again. When I spoke to one young person, they informed me that you can only get out if you are lucky. Either with a pass (if they were sure you wouldn’t speak to the authorities), or by killing someone as high up the chain as you could get to. I was informed that if the ‘boss’ could be removed from their usual safe place, they could be targeted. Young people are often doing deals and buying their way out through finance or deed.

Profitability, pressure and the need for drugs is often great. As schools have been closed and agencies unable to continually review where children are, this can cause more issues. We need to leave this ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude behind and say something more like, ‘if we cannot see them, we do not know what they are doing’.

“IF WE TALK TO THEM, WE CAN BE IN THE MOMENT WITH THEM”

We need to consider our practice alongside potential prejudices that are present within some of the agencies One young man told me of a ‘good friend’ who had acquired a TEC-9 (semi- that we work with. We need to talk to young people and re-engage them automatic pistol) and wanted to get in these times with no youth clubs out of a ‘situation’. I was informed that and limited social and employment they had to explain why they wanted to opportunities. If we talk to them, we can see the boss through intermediaries. be in the moment with them. If we try After going through various levels of to understand young people, we can the property, they found the boss and executed him. On making his escape, he get to the essence of what they want. If we look within ourselves, it will not be was later caught, arrested and given a 10-year jail sentence. I was told ‘he’s no too far from what we want for our own children. safer in there than on the street’.

There was an emptiness in his words, which were very matter of fact. There appeared no drama, bravado or glossing over. More worryingly, there was no reason not to believe him.

As social workers, we need to remember that when we are working with young people, the current discussion about detention and protecting them is not adequate.

Perhaps we should look at how we are working with them, instead of dealing with them.

“IT’S NOT ONLY A CRIMINAL MATTER, IT’S A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS” No longer can we as professionals just surmise that it’s the environment. We cannot say that it’s poor parenting, as often the parents don’t know what is

“MAN, THE ROADS ARE STILL OPEN”

I will leave you with the words the young man gave me before he left. ‘Man, the roads are still open, it’s just that the elders have found different ways for us to travel’.

I no longer want to hear stories of death and destroyed lives; I want to see these young people get past the age of 21.

Currently, so many are telling me that they have no future and there are far too many headstones being erected for my liking.

GET INVOLVED We’re always seeking contributors to share their thoughts and insights with Social Work News. Have idea that you would like to write about? Contact us via press@mysocialworknews.com 37

Book review

Sharon Luca-Chatha, author of new children’s book, ‘Why did Grandad die?’ speaks about how it can help children to cope with bereavement.

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hen it comes to coping with bereavement, helping children to understand is a challenge.

Following the tragic stillbirth of her first son Luca, Sharon Luca-Chatha had the difficult task of explaining his death to her youngest son, Ky. After the initial conversation, she knew that her son still had questions about his brother’s death, so to help him, and many others, Sharon wrote a dedicated children’s book, designed to open up conversations with children aged 3-9 about the death of a loved one.

TELL US ABOUT THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEW BOOK

When my son Ky was five, he had questions about how his brother had

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died. As prepared as we thought we were, it was clear that he hadn’t fully understood what had happened. I researched what books were out there to help and found that the majority were based around the death of an animal.

The book’s format is designed to help the child understand what has happened and spark conversations with parents, guardians or teachers.

YOUR AIM IS FOR THIS BOOK TO BE USED BY TEACHERS, HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. CAN YOU TELL US MORE?

I have many friends who are working with schools on mental health initiatives, and they have said that they will be using the book as a resource for their

programme. It’s also important to let parents know that they can use this.

I know that social workers need to have incredibly difficult conversations with children, and I hope that children of different ages can relate to the illustrations within the book.

We were mindful that people can interpret the pictures in different ways.

I hope that it’s a useful tool to open up conversations and allow readers to create their own answers to any questions that arise.

BUY THE BOOK ONLINE The book can be purchased from Sharon’s charity, The Luca Foundation thelucafoundation.org.uk for £9.99. All proceeds will go to the charity.

Book review

FLOSS AND THE BOSS: HELPING CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT DOMESTIC ABUSE AND COERCIVE CONTROL

Catherine Lawler, Abigail Sterne, Nicky Armstrong, Routledge, £11.99 This is a great resource. It’s a story about a puppy who loves playing with her best friend. However, things change when her mum’s new friend, Boss, comes around. Beautifully written with stunning illustrations, this is an excellent book for primary aged children.

We would thoroughly agree with the NSPCC who describe the book as “a very useful resource for education and social care professionals working with families”.

THERAPEUTIC FAIRY TALES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: GOING THROUGH TROUBLING TIMES

Pia Jones, Sarah Pimenta, Routledge, £39.99 A series of short tales, designed to help readers aged 6+ understand challenging life situations. The book covers themes such as parental depression, family breakdown and terminal illnesses.

Each story comes with a disclaimer of how to use the book effectively due to the sensitive subject matters.

There is also a dedicated manual for professionals, to use alongside the stories themselves. Featuring practical worksheets and ideas for discussion points, it can help professionals feel supported when opening up difficult conversations with young children.

We think this could be hugely beneficial for social workers working with children and families.

BODY IMAGE IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL: A SELF-ESTEEM APPROACH TO BUILDING BODY CONFIDENCE

Nicky Hutchinson and Chris Calland, Routledge, £23.99 Body image is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue. With more children than ever before being referred to CAMHS services, it’s important that, as a profession, we feel confident helping primary school-aged children to develop positive body images. Although the book, which has been broken down into age groups, has been designed specifically to be used within schools, there is a range of practical exercises and activities which could be beneficial for social work professionals.

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Innovate CYPS

When a programme claims to be able to ‘break the cycle of care’ it’s understandably met with scepticism. But for 80 vulnerable children and young people who were at risk of becoming looked-after, life looks much more positive. Liz Hewitt, Head of Service at Innovate CYPS, describes the key aspects of their award-winning work with Enfield London Borough Council.

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Innovate CYPS

we appointed a youth engagement specialist to introduce community activities, to give young people a sense of purpose and a space to build friendships and discover new interests.

IN JULY 2020, SIX MONTHS AFTER PROGRAMME COMPLETION, 95% REMAIN OUT OF STATUTORY CARE AND 93% IN EDUCATION.

The numbers are something we’re incredibly proud of, but the most rewarding part is knowing the impact we’ve made on each child’s life.

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or many young people with complex needs, being looked-after outside their family is what’s best for them. But it is possible to reverse the cycle of care with intensive social care intervention and therapeutic support.

In 2018, we delivered a 12-month Edge of Care programme with Enfield LBC, with the aim of keeping 80% of young people out of care six months after programme completion.

The 80 children and young people assessed as suitable for the programme were disengaged with education or facing exclusion, involved in gangs and were at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation.

ONLY A MULTI-SYSTEMIC APPROACH WOULD WORK

Most of the young people were wellknown to social services. They were identified as being at significant risk, with the potential of entering the care system due to their home environment and community challenges. A multisystemic approach was needed.

It was decided that we would work intensively with two cohorts of 40 young people over 18 months (with cohort 2 starting six months after cohort 1). Phase 1 saw intensive targeted intervention (six-month period) followed by phase 2 working on sustainable change (sixmonth period).

ADDRESSING DEEP-ROOTED ISSUES

“IN MY 15 YEARS OF BEING QUALIFIED AS A SOCIAL WORKER, THE PROGRAMME HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO WHAT MOTIVATED ME TO BECOME A SOCIAL WORKER IN THE FIRST PLACE, SUPPORT AND HELP PEOPLE.”

The first phase of the project involved intensive support from a multidisciplinary team which included social workers, a therapeutic practitioner, a family support worker, a family group conference - Esther, Innovate CYPS social worker co-ordinator and youth participation For many of the young people and workers. parents, the experience has been lifeTogether, we provided one-to-one social changing. care and therapeutic interventions for “With ongoing support from the Innovate each young person and their family over CYPS team and CAMHS, there have the two phases. been no further episodes of selfharming or attempted suicide. Instead, “HAVING THE RIGHT Lisa displays a more positive outlook, SPECIALISTS IN PLACE MEANT WE WERE ABLE TO looking forward to a bright future. I’m so grateful for the support.” - Lisa’s mum.

RESOLVE DEEP ROOTED

PARENTAL ATTACHMENT AND RELATIONSHIP ISSUES.”

Parents and children received help in addressing low level mental health and substance misuse issues. They were supported with reengaging with education, since many young people had not accessed education provision for some time.

EMBEDDING POSITIVE CHANGE

Anne Stoker, Assistant Director of Children’s Social Care at Innovate CYPS, says: “There’s no doubt that the life chances of the young people who benefitted from the programme have vastly improved.”

Stepping away from a local authority partner, knowing you’ve made a lasting positive impact, is what motivates all of us at Innovate CYPS. For Enfield LBC, there’s a real sense of achievement and a renewed capability to support families.

The intensive support was followed by a further six months of ‘sustained change’ interventions to ensure positive changes FIND OUT MORE had been made.

To find out more about Innovate CYPS and their partnership work with local Our social workers and educational authorities, visit innovateservices.com psychologist helped each child’s school co-produce a plan to keep *As seen in The Municipal Journal, 30 them in education. At the same time, January 2020.

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Young carers

Transition assessments play an important role in helping young carers move into adulthood. Helen Leadbitter, National Young Carers Lead at The Children’s Society, tells us about their new pathway tool which has been designed to make the process easier.

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n an ideal world, children would have the opportunity to choose their paths and be whoever or whatever they desire. However, this is not always the reality. I work with many children who are held back because they are carers.

“THEIR LIVES REVOLVE AROUND CARING FOR SOMEONE THEY LOVE” For many young carers, the idea of going to college, university or into employment seems impossible. They worry about who will care for their loved one when they are gone.

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“AS FEW AS 13% RECEIVED AN ASSESSMENT AND 36% WERE UNSURE WHETHER THEY HAD”

Not only is there a lack of awareness about these assessments amongst the young carers themselves, there is also Developments in legislation through The confusion amongst professionals. This situation has likely been made worse Children and Families Act 2014 and the by the Coronavirus Act 2020, which Care Act 2014 have strengthened the rights of all young carers, particularly as reduced the legal requirement to carry out a transition assessment. they transition into adulthood.

Our research uncovered confusion TRANSITION ASSESSMENTS over which age the assessments All young adult carers are entitled to a should be carried out, what should be transition assessment before they turn included and how information should 18. Undertaken by a social worker or a be recorded. Worryingly, we found that local authority commissioned service, 50% of responders did not monitor the the meeting should take a whole family transition assessment and 45% didn’t approach enabling young carers to think know if the assessments were being about their future, and considering the monitored. This lack of data means it’s practical and emotional support needed. almost impossible to follow up.

OUR PATHWAY TOOL

We aim not only to raise awareness of the legal requirements but to share best practice on content and structure. The Young Carers’ Transition to Adulthood toolkit is there to help all professionals.

It sets out what a transitions assessment is, why they are important, and recommendations for what to include: Professionals should take a whole family approach to ensure everyone’s needs are met.

Optimum age for the assessment is 14-16 when teenagers face many important decisions about their futures.

A focus on ensuring the young carer can access higher education, employment and training without having to worry about the impact on their loved one.

Guidance around benefits and housing.

Mental health and wellbeing questions should be included to make sure professionals know how young adult carers are feeling.

The toolkit includes sections on each key issue a young carer might face, and helpful solutions that professionals can use to overcome these barriers.

HELPING YOUNG CARERS PLAN FOR THEIR FUTURE

For young carers, growing up has an extra layer of complexity, and the recent pandemic has only added to that. Many saw their responsibilities increase during lockdown as their external support was withdrawn.

“OUR TOOLKIT SHOULD HELP PROFESSIONALS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED OF THEM.” Young carers often struggle at school, so six months out of the classroom will have been detrimental to their learning.

It is vital they are provided with a holistic package of support, and, if completed correctly, a transition assessment is the ideal way to accomplish this.

ACCESS THE TOOLKIT

The Young Carers’ Transition to Adulthood toolkit can be downloaded directly from The Children’s Society at childrenssociety.org.uk

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Reducing loneliness

“IT’S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO ACT ON THINGS AND GET THEM OFF THE GROUND YOURSELF” Now more than ever, we are aware of the impact of loneliness and isolation, something that social worker Alex Hoskyn has tried to overcome through her ‘Chatty Café’ initiative. We find out how Alex has adapted the scheme to incorporate virtual networking support hubs.

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hatty Café is a simple idea. It’s based around encouraging individuals to start conversations with others in a friendly, relaxed way, something I thought of when I was in a café with my baby. As I looked around, I saw a lady who looked exactly how I felt, and a young man with additional needs and his support worker both looking like they had run out of conversation. In that moment, I thought it was a shame that we weren’t all sat together having a chat.”

“THE AIM IS TO BRING PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TOGETHER IN A BID TO REDUCE LONELINESS” The concept was straightforward; participating venues would offer dedicated ‘chatter and natter’ tables where customers can sit if they are happy to make conversations with others. The aim is to bring people of all ages together in a bid to reduce loneliness and help others build relationships to feel less isolated. Since Alex launched the concept in 2017, nearly 1,000 locations have signed up.

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Reducing loneliness

MOVING INTO A VIRTUAL SUPPORT HUB

Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, it wasn’t possible for Chatty Café to remain accessible in person so Alex set up an online support hub using video conferencing platform Zoom. With three sessions per week, the virtual Chatty Café enabled participants to remain connected with others. During each 30-minute session, up to ten people were invited to join in, with great efforts made to emulate the experience they would have had in one of the venues.

“We also began offering weekly oneto-one phone calls which have worked wonderfully. The same person calls at the same time each week and it allows our team to build strong relationships with those on the other end of the phone. We’ve been working closely with NHS link workers and community connectors who refer people that they think would benefit from a call. Whilst we want to gradually direct our Zoom participants back to their local ‘chatter and natter’ venues, we’ve secured funding to keep these one-to-one calls going indefinitely. It’s fantastic we’ve been able to evolve our services.”

UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES RELATING TO LONELINESS

Alex’s social work background has played a big role in setting up the scheme. “Thanks to my training, I’m more aware of how to identify social problems and I understand the need to sometimes get things done yourself.

There isn’t always a statutory service to cover something, so it’s important to have the confidence to act on things and get them off the ground yourself.”

Alex believes that social workers should tap into similar resources to help support vulnerable people who may be feeling lonely, anxious or depressed.

She suggests that a starting point would be for local authorities to “publicise what is freely available in the community, so that health councils and voluntary organisations can work together.”

Thanks to the scheme’s initial success, Alex is keen to continue evolving Chatty Café and has recently taken on a Although there are many schemes Volunteer Project Manager. This person across the country to tackle isolation will be responsible for recruiting, training and loneliness amongst older people, and co-ordinating a volunteer network. the Chatty Café initiative actively As the ‘chatter and natter’ venues supports people of all ages. When restart their meetings, a volunteer will asked why she thinks loneliness is so be assigned a venue to sit at the table hard to overcome, Alex simply says: “For and help kick-start conversations. many of us with busy work and home “It makes me extremely happy that this lives, it’s hard to imagine having the scheme is helping to make a difference time to feel lonely, but it’s important to to so many people. I never could have be aware that it can happen to anyone. imagined it growing in this way but I am People retire, they may have to stop working due to ill-health or children may so grateful that it has.” grow up and leave the area. When that FIND OUT MORE happens, loneliness may creep up on To find out more about the scheme, visit them and once they are in a downward thechattycafescheme.com/uk spiral it can be hard to get out of.”

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SOCIAL CARE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES. Whilst many aspects of life have been put on hold, we want you to know that social care recruitment hasn’t.

Now, more than ever, local authorities across the UK are leaning on Sanctuary Personnel.

They are actively looking to recruit qualified social work professionals just like you to safeguard vulnerable children, young people and adults.

Councils trust us to find just the right person every single time. That’s why you’ll always be recommended social work jobs that are an ideal match.

Every interaction we have with our community, no matter how small, matters.

That’s why our candidate satisfaction score continues to climb. At Sanctuary, excellent service is how we measure ourselves.

sanctuarypersonnel.com

MAKING LIGHT WORK OF FINDING YOUR IDEAL ROLE.

Direct access to hundreds of new roles added daily

Personal job alerts based on your exact preferences

Support of an experienced consultant for the best role

New opportunities to progress your career

Our hearts go out to the entire social care community. Thank you for everything you’re doing; for your care, compassion and selflessly placing others first.

We applaud you. sanctuarypersonnel.com

Social work-led solutions to address post-Covid surge in demand

Are you experiencing a surge in referrals, CP and CLA numbers?

How confident are you that you haven’t lost ground with your practice quality?

Are you seeking sustainable cost savings or want to prevent future spend?

Innovate CYPS understands that emerging from Covid will be challenging.

As a social work-led organisation, we can provide tailored solutions to many of the pressures you’re experiencing and anticipating.

“Coming in at a time of crisis is never easy but Innovate CYPS understood the complexities of our situation. If it hadn’t been for their support in helping us to manage the throughput of cases, we simply wouldn’t have coped.”

Greta Ullfors, Strategic Manager DAAT, Northamptonshire County Council

Contact us To find out more about our social work-led solutions, please contact us on: Phone:

0330 9000 100

Web:

innovateservices.com

Email:

info@innovateservices.com