Social Work/Social Care & Media

#workforchange tweet chat on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. PST/ 9 p.m. EST. Join the University of Southern California School of Social Work and its online MSW@USC program for a tweet chat co-hosted with Social Work/ Social Care Media to kick off National Social Work Month! Meet us at #workforchange on Thursday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. PST/ … Continue reading →

Between the time I was asked to write this post and the date that you are reading it, a young and promising life ended by suicide in my community. Such a tragic event shocks the life of a parent, a family, a school, and a community in ways that are yet to be felt. The … Continue reading →

In her article “Mommy bloggers: A child’s right to online privacy” Sarah Kendzior raises a number of important points in relation to children’s online privacy such as: “Some mommy bloggers have argued that their need for total honesty trumps the responsibility to protect their child’s identity.” Sarah argues that mothers hold the key to protecting … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining @SWSCmedia debate on “Social Media for Social Work and the ethics of online engagement: An evening with BASW”. This debate was used for crowdsourcing social workers opinions and will be considered by BASW for a further guide in relation to social workers’ engagement on social media. We also would like to thank … Continue reading →

Barely a month has passed since 20 children aged 6 and 7 were killed in their classrooms at Sandy Hook elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It is also disturbing that for many children in the United States, such gun-related violence has long been a sad fact of life due to structural poverty, economic decline, and crime. One … Continue reading →

Gun control has been a persistent debate for at least half a century in US, beginning with the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to the recent shooting and killing of children and adults in Newtown, Connecticut. In that period one of the most effective legislation was … Continue reading →

Social media is a growing issue for social workers, in terms of how they employ these communications platforms in their professional and personal lives. We see its prevalence in discussions about our case work, in the press, in debates at conferences and, of course, in social media discussions. As the professional association for social work … Continue reading →

Technology is firmly now part and parcel of our daily lives, embedded in our culture and transcending our whole lives – professional, personal and those grey areas in between. So what are the rules of engagement for those of us who are either qualified and registered social workers or those on the pathway to qualification? … Continue reading →

I’d enjoyed Twitter for many months, well before September, 2012.  It had given me immediate news on all the important things; Arsenal’s results; on all things cycling, who’d won what, who was going to win what as well as news that I’d rather not have, the latest drugs in cycling story for example. Excitingly it … Continue reading →

The increasing use of social media and its applications have dramatically changed and continue to change the manner in which people communicate and exchange information. This has brought about significant developments as well as challenges for everyone including those not present on social media. Therefore, in today’s debate we are pleased to have @BASW_UK as … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining @SWSCmedia debate on Frontline and for sharing your views.  We are very pleased to have offered the first public open debate about Frontline where all participants could express their views directly to Josh MacAlister (the Founder and project lead for Frontline). We also would like to thank Josh MacAlister for participating in … Continue reading →

It’s been an exciting and busy time for Frontline over the last few weeks and we have high hopes for the future. I am now working full time to make Frontline, a programme to boost the number of high potential graduates and career switchers in children’s social work, a reality. Never far from my thoughts … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and for sharing your views on the prospects of Social Work, Social Care, and Health in 2013. It was an excellent way to start our debates in 2013… and to look forward to another year of learning and sharing and exciting and lively debates. Below is the summary of the debate … Continue reading →

Welcoming in a new year always brings a chance to consider what might be up ahead. Given who I am, many (but not all) of my predictions relate to social work and technology. This is not to suggest that these are the only notable trends for this year, only that this is what I’m noticing … Continue reading →

Well I hope that those of us who are involved in social work and social care reclaim the discredited phrase ‘we are all in this together’ and make common cause as workers, researchers and service users to challenge the divisive social policies being pursued by the current government.   The work of researchers such as Wilkinson, … Continue reading →

We will face no shortage of social needs in 2013. From any standpoint of practice, knowledge, or belief, the challenges will be more and greater than they have been in any previous time. So the need for competent, compassionate social workers will go on. As I consider what will be in store for the profession … Continue reading →

Few would disagree that there should be better dialogue between research and practice in social work, leading to practice which is better informed by evidence. How to achieve this change is a difficult question, however. In this brief piece I will suggest just a few possible measures. To achieve lasting change, a much broader strategy … Continue reading →

2012 has been an eventful year for social care, social work and health as each of these sectors saw significant changes in policy and legislation ranging from the so called welfare to workfare policy, to implementation of Munro’s much awaited recommendations, to establishment of new commissioning system and the local Health and Wellbeing Boards.  Reflecting … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and for sharing your views regarding solution focused social work. Also our great appreciation for Dr. Neil Thompson who joined us to share his insight and experience on solution focused social work and to propose that social work should refocus its interventions on solutions making. Dr. Thompson emphasised a … Continue reading →

In my training and consultancy work I often encounter a degree of negativity towards the ideas of partnership and empowerment. This largely comes from a belief that, while they may well be worthwhile ideals, they are deemed not to be achievable in practice. I have some sympathy with that view, in so far as I … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and for sharing your views regarding HCPC and Social Workers’ registration, regulation, and Continuous Professional Develop (CPD). Also our great appreciation goes to HCPC and particularly Marc Seale (HCPC CEO & Registrar) and Mark Potter (HCPC Stakeholder Communications Manager) for joining us in the debate and answering the many … Continue reading →

Our standards for continuing professional development are very different to the General Social Care Council’s (GSCC) system of post registration training and learning (PRTL). This system required social workers to undertake ninety hours or fifteen days of learning over the three years of their GSCC registration. Our approach is to focus on the benefits of … Continue reading →

Social workers in England have a new regulator following the abolition of the General Social Care Council (GSCC). The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) is now responsible for regulating social workers in England along with health and psychological professionals from many backgrounds and disciplines. As a multi-professional regulator of over 300,000 individuals we take … Continue reading →

In a recent speech at the Institute of Public Policy Research, Education secretary Michael Gove started his speech by saying: “I want to begin with an admission. The state is currently failing in its duty to keep our children safe.” This comes at a time when local authority cuts are at an all-time high and … Continue reading →

4 decades ago in September 1972, in an unpublished position statement on trans-racial adoptions, the National Association of Black Social Workers in the U.S. stated: “Black children belong physically and psychologically and culturally in black families where they receive the total sense of themselves and develop a sound projection of their future. Only a black family can … Continue reading →

On 30th of October, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Social Work heard evidence from two frontline practitioners about the current state of social work. The APPG was launched earlier this year and was established following lobbying from the British Associate of Social Workers (BASW). The APPG is chaired by MP Ann Clwyd and … Continue reading →

TV star Jimmy Savile, who died last year at the age of 84, is believed to have been one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders. Estimates suggest that as many as 300 people may have been abused by Savile. Savile’s case is followed by further allegations of child abuse involving MPs, judges and bankers. … Continue reading →

Social work operates within a knowledge economy and one in which its practitioners are expected to take responsibility for their own training and development. But, even in this age of social media-borne knowledge, the profession seems to lack the cultural orientation and fundamental awareness and expertise in knowledge transfer and knowledge management. It is vital, … Continue reading →

Since its’ inception the role and identity of social work has been a subject of debate and it seems that even after a century past Flexner social work has never gotten fully over some of the challenges raised in his speech. Indeed, Askeland and Payne (2001) suggest:  “Social work has always been subject to competing … Continue reading →

Social media tools and approaches, based on Web 2.0 paradigm, offer educational possibilities in so far as they can support social interaction such as sharing and exchanging information and views, collaborating, and communicating.  Therefore, here are some of the ways social media and social learning can contribute to social work and social care education and … Continue reading →

The widespread diffusion of social media and its increasing use in both personal and professional spheres combined with an abundance of information sustained by increasing out-pouring of private information into public domain, have blurred the boundaries of personal and work identities and generated significant socio-legal, cultural, economic, and psychosocial challenges. This article is an attempt … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and sharing your views on “Voices of Children & Children’s Rights“ @SWSCmedia. Below is the summary of the discussion and we look forward to your views in our future debates. Summary of Debate on: Voices of Children & Children’s Rights (9 October 2012) Click here or on the image below to … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate on “Child Protection Social Work: Separating Children from their Families? Why? When? & How?” We changed our topic shortly before the debate to shed light on child protection practice and in response to BBC Eastenders misinformed and damaging portrayal of social work and social workers’ role and interventions. Below … Continue reading →

Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states: “1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and sharing your views on “Values & Ethics in Social Work“ @SWSCmedia. Below is the summary of the discussion and we look forward to your views on: “The Conception of Childhood and Children’s Rights” @SWSCmedia on Tuesday (9 October 2012) 8:00 PM UK / 3:00 PM ET. Summary of Debate on: Values and Ethics … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate and sharing your views on “Ethical implications of Social Media engagement for Health, Social Work, and Social Care professions” @SWSCmedia. Below is the summary of the discussion and we look forward to your views on: “The Conception of Childhood and Children’s Rights” @SWSCmedia on Tuesday (9 October 2012) 8:00 PM UK / 3:00 PM … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining the debate on “Social Work and Social Media Apps” @SWSCmedia and for sharing your views. Below is the summary of the discussion and we look forward to your views on: “The Conception of Childhood and Children’s Rights” @SWSCmedia on Tuesday (9 October 2012) 8:00 PM UK / 3:00 PM ET. Summary of Debate on: Social Work … Continue reading →

The emergence of social media has revolutionised how we communicate with one another and how information is transmitted and shared.  No longer are we solely consumers of the media but now also producers.  I think this goes way beyond Andy Warhol’s vision of one day everyone being famous and having their 15 minutes.  Whilst I … Continue reading →

@SWSCMedia is hosting a special debate tomorrow evening on Social Work/Social Care/Health and Social Media Ethics. During this debate we will explore the ethical implications of social media engagement for health, social work and social care professions and professionals, and will discuss a number of critical issues including whether social media engagement should be regulated, … Continue reading →

An opportunity for all nurses, midwives and health visitors to come together to share their research findings and experiences and its relevance for today’s practice. Keynote speakers include: Professor Jenny Hunt and Professor Christine Norton. Opportunities for poster presentations and workshops will be available. To book your FREE place now please contact: Julia Watson (j.watson@herts.ac.uk) and/or … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining us and for sharing your views on “The Internet & Child Abuse Offenders – what are the current challenges?” @SWSCmedia. It was a lively evening with excellent contributions and our thanks and appreciation to our special guest Mark Williams-Thomas who joined us for the evening. Therefore, we look forward to your participation … Continue reading →

With the rapidly changing technology all around us, it seems that new online social work communities and resources are springing up all the time. One such community and a leading resource in this area is @SWSCmedia. According to its Web site at https://swscmedia.wordpress.com/, “@SWSCmedia is a knowledge community of practice that brings social work and … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining us and for sharing your views on “NQSW: Where to from here? What are the realistic job prospects for Newly Qualified Social Workers? Debate” @SWSCmedia. It was a lively evening with excellent contributions from brilliant participants. Therefore, we look forward to your participation in our next debate on Tuesday (Sept. 25) when … Continue reading →

The Internet has created a global gateway and market, with no boundaries or distances to travel. As a result the policing of online child abuse offenders has required a co-ordinated international policing response. So how big is the problem of child abuse material online, and is their a direct link between viewing child abuse material … Continue reading →

Affordable Care Act is a truly historic legislation with vast and far reaching implications/consequences that will transform the health care landscape in America. For instance focusing on the population of older adults in America, research suggests that for an older American adults (aged over 65), there is a 70% chance that they require some form … Continue reading →

Social work has and continues to undergo many changes and the same can be said for social work job prospects. Under the Labour government we saw unprecedented investment in public sector services and job prospects were good for social workers. However, the recession in 2008-2009 impacted on public finances and when the Conservatives and Liberal … Continue reading →

Thank you for joining us and for sharing your views on “Rape and Abortion Rights Debate” @SWSCmedia. This was the first of our new U.S.A. & Canada debates series @SWSCmedia. It was a lively evening with excellent contributions from brilliant participants. Therefore, we look forward to your participation in our next debate on Wednesday (Sept. 12) … Continue reading →