Inspiring the future of social work in Norfolk Social Work’s journey in Norfolk Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Psychology, UEA Emeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEA

Messages for the future and messages from the past Continuity in seeing social work as a unified profession across Children and Families and working with Adults A multi-agency environment and a multi- disciplinary context Partnerships with the voluntary, private and independent sectors, and between HEIs and practice in a joint enterprise Contributions to local, national and international policy developments through undertaking and participating in practice- informed research

Messages from the past “Social work has arrived at a watershed moment” (Social Work Task Force, 2009, Building a Safe, Confident Future) But we have been at watersheds before – for example, the Seebohm report of 1968 and the creation of Local Authority Social Services Departments and a unified social work profession

 Concerns about child welfare were the catalyst here too But also an awareness of a growing ageing population Divisions between children’s and adult’s services existed at central and local government levels. (There has always been a need to find ways of joining up services across age groups.) An identified need for more and better training for social workers Parallels Pre-Seebohm

First report, May 2009 – 6 key themes Social workers felt overburdened by high caseloads and bureaucracy; Poor IT systems and poor supervision; Not properly prepared for the realities of practice, and unrealistic expectations in their first year; Lack of a strong national voice; Ineffective performance management systems; Social workers feeling undervalued and demoralised.

Factors affecting the progress of the Seebohm proposals – messages for the present Other government priorities and reorganisations in related areas Tensions between central and local government Resource limitations Giving voice to the professionals

Positives for the future of social work in adult services from the reform board “In adult services, social workers are essential to the delivery of personalised services and to achieving better outcomes with adults of all ages who need services, support or protection” “As well as assessment, core planning and review and adult safeguarding, social workers may also offer advice to self-funders and engage in community development and work to create safe, healthy and prosperous communities.”

To preserve enduring skills for good social work practice with individuals, families and communities Strong practice educator partnerships between HEIs and practice Equal access for continuing professional development Emphasise the unique contribution of social work in health and social care A robust, shared, research agenda, and research awareness in practice Social work education

My own Norfolk social work journey From Norwich child care officer to South Norfolk patch social worker to Wymonham Family Centre worker to researcher, placement tutor visits, and Making Research Count in Norfolk From specialist (functional division of work), to generic (geographical) to (functional) child protection/ family support/ LAC to ‘Think Family’ People needing services:  Increase in addictions, domestic violence  more ethnically diverse population

Changes in social work discourse  from ‘clients’ to ‘people who use services’ (and back?)  from ‘social casework’ to ‘intervention’; ‘team leader’ to ‘team manager’ (and back? - post reform board and Munro)  from ‘anti-racist’ to ‘anti- discriminatory’ practice to ‘cultural competence’

Knowledge-based or evidence- based practice? The arrival of ‘commissioning’ makes it essential for front line social workers and team leaders to be ‘research literate’ - value new thinking but critically appraise and challenge ‘the latest fashion’ – adapt new research evidence to ‘what is likely to work’ in Norfolk for different groups of adults and children. How to meet that challenge (of making use of best evidence in each case) in a cost effective way in your crowded days.

Contributions to national as well as local policy and practice developments ‘The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well- being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work’. IFSW.

Partnership-based contributions to national as well as local policy  Norfolk’s Social Services/ Children’s Services Directors and lead politicians have played key roles in National as well as local policy developments  UEA staff have used (often Norfolk-based) research and what we have learned from local social workers on PQ courses and via placement visits to inform evidence to select committees, GSCC, various task forces on social work practice and education and training, cross-national research.

Partnership-based contributions to national as well as local policy Essential for front line social workers to join with colleagues in other professions, managers, colleagues in HEIs and elected members in finding ways of making sure the voices of children and adults facing increasing pressures are heard where it can count. Make your own contributions to the Social Work Reform Board, Munro Review, College of Social work, Family Justice Review The social work profession promotes social change, problem solving in human relationships and the empowerment and liberation of people to enhance well-being. Utilising theories of human behaviour and social systems, social work intervenes at the points where people interact with their environments. Principles of human rights and social justice are fundamental to social work.

Inspiring the future of social work in Norfolk Social Work’s journey in Norfolk Ann McDonald, Head of School of Social Work and Psychology, UEA Emeritus Professor June Thoburn, UEA