- Conference
- 2011 Local Government Service Group Conference
- Date
- 23 February 2011
- Decision
- Carried
This Conference notes that despite the existence of reform programmes for social work within each of the four UK countries, the crisis affecting social work staff continues to deepen.
Conference notes the deep-seated problems of:
1)Excessive workloads, stress and long working hours
2)Unsafe working conditions and exposure to violence
3)Public and media hostility
4)Escalating need for social work services as a result of the recession
5)Underfunding and rationing of services
6)Excessive bureaucracy and poor IT
Conference believes that these problems cannot be properly addressed without significant investment. Conference condemns the cuts which are only making matters worse for social workers and the people they support by reducing qualified staffing, cutting administrative support posts, cutting training and professional development and raising thresholds for support so needs escalate.
Conference calls on the SGE to:
a)Step up UNISON campaigning for the minimum conditions that social workers need to practice safely and effectively, building on the ‘Social Work Contract’ campaign and the Social Work manifesto campaign in Scotland
b)Develop a recruitment and organising strategy for social work staff building on
i) Work done in some regions to target recruitment of students
ii) Work to develop greater access to professional resources and support including through the Social Work Task Force-recommended College of Social Work in England, the UNISON-Community Care microsite, and the UNISON partnership with the Open University
ii) Promotion of membership benefits such as access to support and representation for professional registration issues
c)Continue to engage in social work reform programmes at national level and co-ordinate information and advice to branches on initiatives such as the workload health check, workload management and supervision guidance, and continuing professional development
d)Provide advice and guidance to branches on job evaluation, grading and developing career structures and career progression for social workers