Valuing social workers and social work

Of course, we should value the important work of social workers every day of the year, and I hope we do. But sometimes it’s good to have a focused dose of appreciation. Have we made time to appreciate our social workers this week?

Social work week is a programme of events from Social Work England, the wider social work sector and people with lived experience of social work. It has been focused on three key themes: learn, connect and influence and included a hugely varied programme; whether hearing from care experienced social workers or thinking about power, accountability and inclusivity in report writing; offering chair yoga for wellbeing or discovering facts about eating disorders.

The week wraps itself around World Social Work Day (this year, Tuesday 21 March) which is initiated by the International Federation of Social Workers and spread globally by networks, movements and organisations that share the values expressed in the annual theme. This year’s theme for World Social Work Day was ‘Respecting diversity through joint social action.’ The theme recognises that across the world social workers are often engaged in joint social action, usually on behalf of communities, and – increasingly – with consideration for the environment. It is interesting to pause for thought about what social work looks like around the world. There may be lessons we can learn.

Meanwhile, in the UK, our child and family social workers often have a more individualistic focus. They work with specific children and families, and some may struggle to find time to get to know the communities where the families they help live, or the community of fellow professionals working in the same area. The pandemic drove us away from our offices and the return to face-to-face meetings and side-by-side working has been slow. But that togetherness is a vital part of building relationships and creating an environment in which good social work can thrive.

This Social Work Week in Surrey we have arranged an in person professional development session in each of the four geographical areas where teams are based, helping to support relationship building as well as learning. In addition to (I hope) a great training experience, participants will get a wellbeing pack and a lunch. I’m willing to bet that making time to eat together is as important a part of the event as the learning, (and probably much more valued than the Social Work Week ‘thank you’ video message I record).

I’m sure every local authority is recognising Social Work Week and celebrating social workers in their own way. I hope that connecting for togetherness and to build community is very much a part of that celebration.

As social work week comes to an end, I’ll return to my regular appreciation habit of seeking out some good practice to praise in my weekly email to staff in the Children, Families and Lifelong Learning directorate. Last week (among many lovely examples), I was able to celebrate a social worker who had really committed to their working relationship with a young person and their family and whose great practice was mentioned by the judge in the discharge of a care order. Not an everyday occurrence. That said, every week I look and every week I find social work and social workers to value. Thank you to every social worker everywhere for all that you do.

Rachael Wardell is executive director of children, families and lifelong learning at Surrey County Council and chair of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) workforce development policy committee. This blog was first published on the ADCS website.