Social work leaders must stop hiding and give our profession a voice

Social work leaders must learn to engage with the public and the media if we are to raise public awareness of the issues facing the profession.

Social workers are fully aware of the issues: funding shortages, a reliance on expensive locum staff and a workforce propped up by newly qualified social workers. But does the public know this? I am doubtful it does.

Blogs and articles are published regularly by social workers, but it is unlikely they are read by many outside the social work bubble. So what do we do? I believe our leaders need to stand up and make their voices heard within the media and by those who matter – the people we support.

There should be no reason why directors, senior managers and social workers do not seek interviews with local news programmes. Equally, where is the national voice of social work? I wonder how much time England’s chief social worker for children and families, Isabelle Trowler, spends engaging with people outside of social work or the government? I’ve struggled to find an interview she has given recently to a major news outlet. Does no one want to interview or listen to us? Or are we failing to maximise every opportunity for our voice to be heard? I believe it is the latter.

We have much to learn from our colleagues in health. Time and again, they have successfully raised the national profile of the issues facing the NHS. The chief executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens, is regularly in the media, speaking about a number of matters, including how Brexit might affect the health service.

The row over junior doctors’ pay in 2016 attracted considerable news coverage and encouraging public support. The British Medical Association was highly vocal and organised strike action, and the issue received regular scrutiny in parliament. More recently, discussions around the government’s plans to review NHS pay made headlines and a representative from the Royal College of Nursing was interviewed on BBC News at Six.

Why is this not the same for social work? Why are the British Association of Social Workers and our chief social worker not advocating for us in a similar fashion?

It is abundantly clear to the public that the health service is underfunded. Children’s services are also drastically underfunded, but the public does not know about our plight. And I do not believe the problem is that people are more concerned about the health service than they are about children.

How many people outside the social care sector were aware of strike action by social workers at Kirklees council in West Yorkshire? Some of my colleagues knew nothing about it. The strike did not make the national news and received only local or trade coverage.

Social work leaders are not visible to the public and there is a lack of national dialogue about funding for children’s services departments. I fear this approach is harmful to the profession. Our leaders must stop hiding and stand up and be heard.

• Jake Shearer is children’s social worker in Greater Manchester
  

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