Scotland_010_April15_PSW_templates 26/03/2015 11:56 Page 10

Professional Social Work • April 2015 10 news views

Situation ‘stark’ says Ofsted boss

system in transition facing “intense pressure” Afrom rising referrals with stretched budgets and growing public scrutiny. That was how Ofsted’s Chief Inspector described child protection in England in a report highlighting three-quarters of councils were failing to deliver good enough children’s services. Sir Michael Wilshaw (pictured) said increasing demand on the system was “stark” in his annual

James Allan (right) with cousin Rab Allan inspection report. “Social care professionals are often expected to do more with Glasvegas rock SASW Awards the same or less, all the while knowing that the actions they take and the decisions they make can dramatically change A surprise appearance by acclaimed indie band Glasvegas caused a the course of a child’s life,” said Sir Michael. sensation when they closed SASW’s annual Social Work Awards, “Growing public scrutiny and criticism only adds to that pressure. I make no apology for sparking a Twitter storm among social workers. We asked lead vocalist Ofsted carrying out robust inspections of these and songwriter James Allan why they agreed to do the gig services on behalf of the children and young people who use them. But we must recognise the context and constraints within which social Why did you decide to support the SASW Social change their life overnight, you’ll be let down, workers and their managers work. They have a Work Awards? but that they’d always be there for their clients. difficult and demanding role and do not always So when I wrote the song it was my way of get the support and recognition they deserve.” We are recording our fourth album; aiming to helping capture the empathy that social workers release it in the summer and (obviously) my have with the clients they work with, but also schedule is insane. Currently, I split my writing highlighting how important they are to the and recording time between Stockholm, Los clients. I’ve always written about things that Caseload warning Angeles and Glasgow. When SASW’s Manager interest me and when it came to the reality of Trisha Hall got in touch the timing was right. It just social care work, I just got it! Now, over six years in English councils so happened that I was in Glasgow, so perhaps it on since the track was released, I’ve met many was meant to be! Performing on the night was a social workers around the world who tell me alf of councils in England have failed to set a honour. I could see from the reaction we that listening to Geraldine on their iPod gets Hsafe caseload benchmark for their social received just how much it meant to the people them to work in the morning. workers, according to a survey by online who were there. It was a humbling and magazine CommunityCare. empowering experience, meeting so many What are your thoughts about the social work More than 90 per cent of 112 councils re- amazing and inspiring individuals. profession? sponding to a Freedom of Information request were unable to say if caseloads had exceeded Why did you write a song about a social The majority of media coverage highlights or safe benchmarks in the last year. Seven out of worker? focuses on all the things that go wrong - the ten local authority adults’ services and nearly six media never seem to shine a spotlight on the out of ten children’s services did not have a Before the band signed their first record deal many things that go right. So I guess the only workload management tool or plans to intro- with Columbia Records, I was unemployed and I time you hear about social workers is when duce one. shared a flat with my sister Denise. At that time, something’s f***ed up! The councils were accused of ignoring their Denise and her colleague Geraldine worked for I guess that’s partly the inspiration behind the responsibilities set out in the Standards for Em- Glasgow City Council Social Work Department line: “When your sparkle evades your soul, I’ll be ployer s by the Social Work Reform Board. on the addiction side. there to console.” That for me sums up what Nushra Mansuri, Professional Officer for A lot of the song lyrics came from me listening social workers are all about. Through the song, I BASW England, told CommunityCare: “These to them when they were discussing the wanted to capture their patience and selflessness. standards are a minimum. They are not an add- difficulties they faced in their relationships with Someone has to put a value on what social on, they’re not a luxury – they’re a necessity.” clients. They’d often say that a social worker workers do and I hope Geraldine contributes in learns very quickly that if you expect people to some small way to doing that! Be st practice, page 19 Scotland_028_029_April15_PSW_templates 26/03/2015 11:43 Page 28

Professional Social Work • April 2015 28 awards SASW Annual Social Work

David Mitchell reports on a night when practitioners were the stars of the show

cting Children and Young People Minister Fiona McLeod paid tribute to the profession as five Aexceptional practitioners were honoured at the SASW annual Social Work Awards

Speaking at the ceremony in the Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh, Ms in the Practice Teacher of the Year McLeod stressed the Scottish Government’s continuing support and category. commitment to social work. The judging panel included “We appreciate your dedication, resilience, compassion and SASW members; Alan Baird, professional integrity. But above all just how much you as professionals Chief Social Work Adviser to the work to support the most vulnerable and work to promote social justice Scottish Government; Alison in Scotland,” she said. Petch, Director of the Institute for “That’s a theme that runs through everything that this Government Research and Innovation in Social does and everything that this First Minister works for. The mark of a Services (IRISS) and Wendy country is the care that it gives to those most vulnerable. Harrington, Policy Manager of Fiona McLeod “You are all winners – whether you won or were nominated tonight – Social Work Scotland. but more importantly you are winners every day in the work that you do. The winners each received a special trophy, a European weekend city You are standard bearers for your profession and you are a credit to us.” break and a year’s free membership of SASW. At the ceremony Kendal Power, a Criminal Justice Social Worker with The evening also featured some poignant songs from musician Karen Angus Council, and Brenda Skeffington, a Youth Justice Social Worker Dietz and a surprise guest appearance by cousins James and Rab Allan of with South Lanarkshire Council, emerged as joint winners of the Social indie band Glasvegas, whose set closed with “Geraldine” – a song about Worker of the Year award. a Glasgow social worker. And in two new categories Moira Harris, a Social Worker and Practice SASW Manager Trisha Hall said: “The real stars of the night are the Teacher with Dumfries and Galloway Council, was named Practice unsung heroes – these people who go about their daily work with a Teacher of the Year while Alyson Leslie of Dundee University was Social commitment and passion which rarely gets into the spotlight. Work Lecturer of the Year. “Their colleagues and the users of the services they provide have taken Sheila Cooper, who was until recently Practice Learning and the time and effort to have them recognised, and by doing so have Development Manager of Circle Scotland, was also Highly Commended allowed social work to take centre stage.”

plea for help in setting up a creative ocial workers need to “get involved and fight back”, support centre for offenders was SSASW’s Convener Alistair Brown told the awards A made by Isabel McCue, founder of ceremony. Glasgow charity Theatre Nemo. In a rousing speech to bring the event to a close, he said: “Social work Ms McCue explained that her son John had is amazing. Social work has such power and such ability to affect people’s taken his own life in 2000 after eight years of lives. battling with mental illness. She had set up “But the most difficult feeling for me as a social worker is hopelessness, Theatre Nemo to give a voice to social issues, that I can’t change or affect anything. And that’s incredibly difficult in Isabel McCue especially mental health. these times with the challenges we have of years of austerity and needs The group now works in the community, getting higher. psychiatric hospitals and prisons to actively encourage people with “So what we need to do for each other is continue to give each other mental health problems and their carers to take part in drama and other hope. And that’s why this evening is so great. These awards and these performance arts. nominees are absolutely fantastic – congratulations to you all.” In prisons, it makes use of creative arts to engage offenders and help Mr Brown said the first thing people ought to do when they got back them gain confidence in their ability to change their behaviour, their lives to their offices was to urge their colleagues to join SASW. and the lives of their families. “Get involved with your professional association, the Scottish “We need to set up a holistic creative support centre for these men. If Government, universities, SSSC, Social Work Scotland and with practice we don’t do this, we will be missing something and the consequences teaching. Don’t have that attitude of feeling downtrodden – get up and are that people will just be going in and out of prison,” she said. fight back!” Scotland_028_029_April15_PSW_templates 26/03/2015 11:44 Page 29

April 2015 • Professional Social Work awards 29

This year’s SOCIAL WORKER OF THE YEAR accolade was awarded jointly to KENDAL POWER and BRENDA SKEFFINGTON

Kendal works as a Social Worker with the She is currently part of a group reviewing the Glen Isla Criminal Justice Project in Angus service’s one-to-one structured supervision to while Brenda is a Social Worker with Children look at what works in reducing reoffending and & Justice Services in South Lanarkshire. improving lives. At Glen Isla, Kendal works exclusively with One service user said: “She was the person women offenders where her creativity and who believed in me at a time I was lost. Without women-centred approach helped boost social work and without Brenda, I would have compliance rates by 60 per cent. She also been dead and not here today to tell my story.” established excellent links with other Kendal said SASW’s awards underlined all the agencies including Tayside Intensive Support hard work carried out by social workers on a daily Service, a police-led service offering basis across the country. persistent women offenders high levels of She said: “I often get caught up in my day-to- support. day work and forget to take a moment to look at One of the women she worked with said: the change I can help make. This award has “She has listened to me time and again about allowed me to do this and further increased my my life and actions and never judged or motivation and determination to continue making looked at me differently and never turned a difference for the women I work with.” her back on me. I’ve had many social Brenda added: “Working in social work is at workers from a young age. None of them times very challenging but also really rewarding. have been anything like Kendal.” Getting this award is a real once-in-a-career event, Brenda, who began her career in where I feel very proud to be recognised by other residential care in 1983, was nominated for professionals. I’m really humbled and proud by her continued enthusiasm, passionate the fact that a service user nominated me and I commitment, practice standards and was part of the positive changes she has made to willingness to take on new developments. Kendal Power (left) and Brenda Skeffington her life.”

PRACTICE TEACHER OF THE YEAR Moira Harris, Social Worker and Practice Teacher, SOCIAL WORK LECTURER OF THE YEAR Dumfries and Galloway Council Alyson Leslie, Lecturer in Social Work and Director for the Centre of Fatality Investigation and Review Studies (FIRST), Dundee University

Moira is a dedicated practice teacher An experienced children and with a gentle and nurturing manner families practitioner, Alyson joined whose reputation goes before her. She the university in 2012 to teach on also has exceptional conflict resolution the post graduate and skills which come to the fore in the undergraduate social work challenging situations that arise when programmes. Her students describe students or placements fail. her as an outstanding lecturer, able Generous with her knowledge, Moira to engage and inspire, and fostering encourages self-reflection, challenging in them a belief that they can make learners to see a situation from different a difference. Moira Harris Alyson Leslie perspectives. This helps learners Alyson has done pioneering question their own opinions, beliefs and work in using data sharing, research values, providing a solid base for their future career. information and mechanisms to create FIRST. She is currently Her manager commented: “Moira is incredibly reliable and I know working with the Scottish Government and NHS Tayside to pilot a things will be done by the book and with an admirable attention to new child fatality investigation process, the so-called Ruby Review. detail. I know the students appreciate this as they feel safe and secure.” Alyson said: “It has been a great privilege to have a chance to Moira said: “Winning the award means a great deal to me. I have put something back into the profession and to have had the been practice teaching for 14 years and am passionate about the role privilege of teaching social work students over the last three and its contribution to the education and development of our future years. I am touched by their feedback and will treasure the award practitioners. greatly. “More than anything I’m really pleased to see practice teaching get “My time at Dundee is ending and I look forward to the recognition it deserves. So many of my colleagues across the contributing to the formation of the next generation of social country are busy juggling busy workloads with practice teaching workers in other ways, through teaching and through responsibilities, it was great to have practice teaching recognised on opportunities for practice learning and research in my work on World Social Work Day.” inquiries and child fatalities.”