CYP Now - We are the social work champions

Yorkshire and the Humber region’s Children’s Social Work Matters programme was set up 10 years ago to address workforce issues. Participants look at the key achievements and future challenges.

Festival of Social Work conferences are a chance to celebrate the achievements of children’s social workers while featuring keynote sessions from speakers such as poet Lemn Sissay

Melanie John-Ross is Children’s Social Work Matters lead and executive director of children’s services at Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Children’s social work teams have historically had to deal with ever-rising case numbers, negative public perceptions and high vacancy rates, often against a backdrop of austerity, budget cuts and adverse publicity. Throw a global pandemic into the mix and it is no surprise children’s social work teams up and down the country are now under more pressure than ever before. In Yorkshire and the Humber, the picture is no different.

Ten years ago, Children’s Social Work Matters (CSWM) was launched to champion the vital role of children’s social workers and raise standards, as well as tackle other major issues such as high agency and vacancy rates, myths and misconceptions about the role, and low morale.

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