Sep 12“What gives you the right?” — Reflections on the moral legitimacy of English social work in light of Frontline-founder Boston Consulting Group’s support for the Saudi NEOM projectDeath sentences and 50 year prison terms for Huwaitat tribespeople protesting the takeover of their land by the Saudi government to make way for its NEOM megacity project. Connection to English social work? Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which co-founded the fast track qualifying programme Frontline, now rebranded as a ‘social…3 min read3 min read
Aug 17Why BASW should end its involvement with the private equity-owned Sanctuary Personnel Social Work AwardsThe British Association of Social Workers (BASW — the professional association for social workers in the UK) must end its involvement in the Sanctuary Personnel Social Work Awards (AKA the Social Worker of the Year Awards). This was the general thrust of a motion put the BASW 2021 AGM, the…15 min read15 min read
Feb 5YOUTH CARE AND CHILDREN NEBBI, KAMPALA-UGANDA.ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FUNDRAISING SUPPORT BY BASW NORTH-EAST, UK. The following report and accounts were kindly provided by international social work colleague, Francis Kumakech, of Youth Care and Children Nebbi-Uganda, following transfer of funds raised by British Association of Social Work members in the north east of England. Youth Care and…Social Work4 min readSocial Work4 min read
Dec 31, 2022The worst humblebrag round up of the year 2022UPDATE 17:14 31/12/22: Minutes after publishing this blog, I learned that father, grandfather, husband, care experienced campaigner, social worker and one of the most solidly decent human beings I ever had the privilege to meet, Ian Dickson, has died. This one’s for Ian, whose encouragement was a reliable constant. Part…Social Work4 min readSocial Work4 min read
Nov 30, 2022Dear anonymousDear anonymous I see you have (anonymously) contacted my employer — again. I have been happy to correct them on your claims about me and provide evidence as to why they are false, as I will with any party who has cause to be interested in your behaviour. I can…7 min read7 min read
Oct 13, 2022Social Work Awards, ‘distancing’ and the problem of ‘two fridges’It’s almost cliché for me to say that I had no intention of writing about the Social Work Awards again, but here we are. I’ll try to keep it short. You can find my previous missives on the subject here. Recap/update For those that don’t know, the headline sponsor of…Social Work8 min readSocial Work8 min read
May 22, 2022Bold new chapter? Or endgame? Some initial thoughts on the Care Review recommendationsBack in March 2021, in the early days of the Review of Children’s Social Care in England, I tweeted some predictions based on my observations of the trajectory and nature of reform on children’s services in the preceding decade. …9 min read9 min read
Apr 11, 2022BASW North East branch statement on branch statementsBASW North East branch committee would like to make it clear that the following disclaimer/caveat applies to all BASW North East branch statements, past, present and future. Any statement made by, or on behalf of, the North East branch of BASW is made following consultation with committee members and is…Social Work3 min readSocial Work3 min read
Mar 20, 2022Joint statement by BASW North East and Coventry & Warwickshire branches on UK social work’s links to global businesses reported to be engaged in unethical, immoral and illegal activitiesDisclaimer/caveat Prompted by recent leaks indicating Credit Suisse, a major backer of the Frontline social work training scheme, profits from supporting war criminals, dictators, drug traffickers and oligarchs, the North East and Coventry & Warwickshire branches of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) condemn the activities of all businesses…Social Work4 min readSocial Work4 min read
Mar 2, 2022The rise of the Teach First Empire: Who are Transform society? (Guest blog by Joe Hanley)I am delighted to present here a guest blog by Joe Hanley, a lecturer in social work at the Open University who has written extensively on the topic of fast-track programmes in social work and the networks behind them. Transform Society describe themselves as “the UK’s largest and most powerful…Social Work16 min readSocial Work16 min read
