Workshop: SDS & Social Work – Making it work Jenny Hurst & Andrew Richardson 20th September 2018

Overview We want to facilitate a discussion about Social Work & SDS Sharing experiences Exploring barriers Identifying good practice We may share some ideas to stimulate the discussion Capturing the learning from today Let’s start with introductions

Introductions In pairs discuss: Who you are. Where you work. Reason for choosing this workshop. Discuss: what does SDS mean to you? You will then introduce your partner to the group. 5 minutes

Global definition of the Social Work profession “Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work.  Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledge, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing. The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels.” (IFSW, 2014).

British Association of Social Worker’s (BASW) code of ethics (2014) Social Work principles include: ‘Upholding and promoting human dignity and well-being’ ‘Respecting the right to self-determination’, ‘promoting the right to participation’ ‘Treating each person as a whole’ and ‘identifying and developing strengths’. Principles of dignity, self-determination and human rights are central to SDS. Social Work and Self-Directed Support might therefore be understood to share a common value base.

Challenges and tensions associated with SDS & Social Work. We hear that for many service users and SDS/DP services that Social Workers can sometimes be experienced as a block or barrier to SDS – with a lack of transparency about indicative budgets, restrictions on PB usage and a lack of appropriate information and support throughout the process. Such barriers to SDS are evident in the 2014 POET survey findings: • Around half the group said that they were aware of the amount of money in their personal budget when their support was planned (50%). • Only half the group said they could decide how the money in their personal budget was spent (51%). • Less than two thirds (63%) of people rated their support as good or very good in terms of information and advice.

Balancing risk and the ‘choice and control’ central to SDS can be a challenge for Social Workers. Carr (for SCIE, 2010) found that: ‘Positive risk taking’ or ‘risk enablement’ is central to the philosophy behind self-directed support and personal budgets, but social care practitioners can be concerned about how to both empower the individual and fulfill their duty of care (Carr, 2010). Steven’s et al (2014) carried out a research study in three local authority adult social care departments in England, which explored links between adult safeguarding and personalisation. Findings included how Social Work practitioners described a tension between policy objectives and their exercise of discretion to assess and manage risks. For example, some described how they would discourage certain people from taking their personal budget as a Direct Payment or suggest they take only part of a personal budget as a Direct Payment.

Is the role of Social Workers in SDS clear? Lymbery (2014) argues that the role of Social Work in personalisation was never made explicit and indeed was ‘over-generalised’ and ‘unspecific’, with much made of the potential under SDS for service user self- assessment to free up Social Work time spent on assessment and allow a greater focus on support, brokerage, advocacy, early intervention, social inclusion and safeguarding. He points out that despite promises of a ‘rosy future for social work within personalisation’ made by a number government bodies the realities of practice are that the numbers of social workers are being rapidly reduced and Social Work roles are being restricted and eroded. This is happening because Social Work is ‘state mediated’, politically dominated profession – a ‘bureau profession’ (unlike other professions).

Discussion