Articles

Student social workers slam proposed graduate scheme as ‘complete exploitation’

An article in The Journal (National online “newspaper” in Ireland) about the proposed “new graduate” scheme for newly qualified social workers. Comments from The Social Work Action Network Galway included, along with details of the upcoming national demonstration being organised ... Read More

Social Work Action Network Ireland Steering Committee

Dear SWAN Ireland friends, The new year is well underway and plans to progress the Social Work Action Network Ireland are in progress. It was agreed at the SWAN conference in November 2013 that an All-Ireland steering committee would be established. The preference is for as many parts of the country as possible to be involved and to be represented on the steering committee. So far representatives from Cork, Galway and Dublin have come forward to be on the committee. Read More

In defence of social work: Why Gove is wrong

In 2013, SWAN wrote of Tory ConDem cabinet member and Education Secretary Michael Gove’s attack on social work. Many academics involved in SWAN and others issued a joint letter rejecting his claims in the immediate aftermath. SWAN also released the pamphlet, 'In Defence of Social Work: Why Michael Gove is wrong'. Read More

Whistle-blowing for Justice

‘Exposing – Whistle-blowing – going ‘outside’ in the pursuance of justice for vulnerable people. Dr Margaret Kennedy PhD Today in the Irish Times (10/01/2014) my case against the Brothers of Charity (BOC) , the HSE and the HSE (West) in the High Court clearly describes ‘vindication’ following what I believed were defamatory statements made about my professionalism and also inaccuracies that I had not reported concerns to the Brothers of Charity, which I had done, verbally and in writing, said in a published HSE review of Client Protection services in the Brothers of Charity Galway. Read More

Los Angeles County Social Workers on strike for lower caseloads

Simon Cardy (Twitter @simoncardy) of SWAN West Midlands, reports on the developing, mass strike action by social workers taking place in Los Angeles County, California: A very determined, and at times militant, strike of around 1600 social workers organised by the Service Employees International Union SEIU has been taking place in Los Angeles County over the last week or so. The SEIU is one of the largest public sector unions in America. A six day strike began on Tuesday 2nd December by social workers working in the Department of Children and Family Services Social Workers (DCFS) [1]. Thousands of support staff joined the strike after three days in a massive act of solidarity. They are fed up with a four year pay freeze, long hours and excessive caseloads – sounds familiar? Read More

A response to Michael Gove: wrong on social work education

There has been much coverage of Education Secretary Michael Gove's speech discussing child protection to the NSPCC, delivered on Tuesday this week. This included his position on social work and social work education and his feeling that such training involves 'idealistic students being told that the individuals with whom they will work have been disempowered by society' which 'robs individuals of the power of agency and breaks the link between an individual’s actions and the consequences'. Read More

Practice notes: social security, benefits and the role of social workers

SWAN London, with assistance from a number of supporters including WinVisible, Kilburn Unemployed Workers Group and the Zacchaeus 2000 Trust have produced this latest edition to the SWAN practice notes series. The topic on this occasion is a radical response to welfare reforms and benefits. Please download and distribute this workplace tool! Read More

Social care workers show solidarity to Hovis Zero Hours Strikers

A critical issue for the labour movement is the use of zero hours contracts by unscrupulous employers, which enable them to guarantee no regular hours of work. This leaves their workers living dreadfully precarious lives, living from week to week without knowing what their pay cheque might look like. We are delighted to receive this report from Malcolm Jones of North West SWAN, who, along with other social workers and home care workers has been on the picket line supporting Hovis workers in their dispute against Premier Foods. There have been two rounds of strikes - while the Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union are now in talks (as of 19th September 2013) with bosses about their use of zero hours contracts - a third round of strikes is planned if no resolution is found. SWAN National Steering Committee offers their full support and solidarity. Read More

SWAN backs the Glasgow Homeless Casework Team unofficial strike

This week SWAN has learned about the unofficial strike by social workers in the North and East Community Homeless Casework Team of Glasgow City Council, who are members of Unison. They walked out on Friday 13th September, following the suspension of a colleague who refused to cover the work of vacant posts. UPDATE: wildcat strikers returned to work on Wednesday 18th September, pending official industrial action as their member was reinstated to their position and talks with management were agreed. See foot of article.Unite the Resistance reported yesterday (Monday 16th September), that the strike had escalated across the whole service following a union meeting of 60 people, after talks with management over workload failed to resolve the issues. The workers are demanding management take action to prevent excessive workloads by agreeing to a cap of 35 cases per worker. Read More

Your Choice Barnet offered a way out of its financial crisis by Professor Dexter Whitfield

The SWAN website has previously featured articles on the campaigns against the 'One Barnet' programme being implemented in the Conservative controlled north London Borough, an authority which has become another malign neoliberal laboratory for local government. While SWAN has supported the work of Barnet Alliance for Public Services and the Campaign Against Destruction of Disabled Support Services (CADDSS), we have not highlighted the debacle of the Your Choice Barnet Local Authority Trading Company. This was set up in February 2012 to spin off the previously in-house learning disability services in the borough, and shortly found itself £2m in debt. CADDSS was so concerned about the future of services provided by Your Choice Barnet that it asked Prof Dexter Whitfield, the Director of European Services Strategy, to review the situation. Your Choice Barnet is experiencing considerable financial difficulties and is very unwilling to engage with service users and families who are worried about the future of the services they use. Read More

SWAN at the People’s Assembly

An impressively large and enthusiastic People’s Assembly met in central London on June 22nd. Among the 4000 delegates were many SWAN supporters, whether representing the London group or from other organisations so it will be interesting to see what ideas we can bring back into social work and SWAN. Read More

Social Workers and Service Users Unite

The Social Work Action Network Ireland will be out in force outside Leinster House, Dublin, on Wednesday June 26th at 6pm to support the Special Needs Parents Association as they protest at the most recent callous cut to children with special needs education. Read More

Keep Spon Lane Children’s Home open!

Sandwell Council's Cabinet was met by a noisy lobby of forty people calling on councillors to keep the Spon Lane Children's Home open. The Cabinet received a report on 12th June proposing the closure of the last remaining Council provided Children's Home in Sandwell. The closure will mean the loss of over 15 posts. Read More

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Pamphlet Launch: People Before Profit: The future of social care in Scotland