Skip to main content
Home
Menu Close

Utility menu

  • Why join BASW
  • Events
  • Media Centre

Popular on BASW

Campaigning and influencing
World social work day
Social work stands against poverty
People with lived experience
Career stages
Cost of living crisis

Main navigation

  • About social work
    • What is social work?
    • Topics in social work
    • Professional Social Work (PSW) Magazine
  • Careers
    • Become a social worker
    • Returning to social work
    • For employers
    • Specialisms
    • Career stages
    • Jobs board
    • Work for BASW
  • About BASW
    • Campaigning and influencing
    • Governance
    • Social work around the UK
    • Awards
    • Social work conferences UK
    • International Work
    • Feedback, suggestions & complaints
  • Training & CPD
    • Professional Development
    • Professional Capabilities Framework
    • Let's Talk Social Work Podcast
  • Policy & Practice
    • Resources
    • National policies
    • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
    • Working with...
    • Research and knowledge
    • Standards
  • Support
    • Advice & representation
    • Social Workers Union (SWU)
    • Social Work Professional Support Service (SWPSS)
    • Independent social workers
    • Student Hub
    • Financial support
    • Groups and networks
    • Membership renewals
    • How to contact us
Professional Social Work Magazine

Professional Social Work Magazine (PSW)

Main navigation

  • Digital editions
  • Guidance for contributors
  • PSW articles
  • Advertising

Ethical and human rights strain on social workers during Covid acknowledged by chief social worker for adults

Lyn Romeo outlines pressures on profession and ambitions for future in annual report

Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 18 May, 2022

England’s chief social worker for adults Lyn Romeo acknowledged the “unprecedented” ethical and human rights dilemmas faced by practitioners during the pandemic.

Romeo made the comments in her annual report reflecting on the last year of practice amid Covid restrictions.

She said: “Social work has always been at its best in dealing with uncertainty, ambiguity and crisis. However, the difficulties in accessing resources to support people have placed unprecedented strain on ethical decision-making and challenges the principles of human rights and social justice for those who we are here to serve.”

A report by BASW and academics from Durham University earlier this year titled Pandemic Ethics: rethinking rights, responsibilities and roles in social work, found social workers practicsing during the pandemic suffered “ethical distress”.

Examples include discharge of patients to care homes and restrictions on visiting vulnerable families.

Some social workers, said the paper published in the British Journal of Social Work, felt they had to “push back against new laws, procedures and guidance they judged unfair or damaging and implemented alternative solutions”.

In her report, Romeo went on to outline a more community-based, collaborative future to social work practice with adults.

She said: “What is clear is that there will be no return to the status quo after Covid.

“As we recover and grapple with the changes and the ‘new normal’, the challege for social work is to take a big leap forward by redesigning and reimagining practice working alongside people, their carers and the communities in which they live, to be ambitious for the best possible lives and outcomes for all.”

Romeo said collobration with health and community organisations had “shone a light on strength-based practice and the benefits of community-led, asset-based approaches to supporting people in achieving the changes that matter to them”.

    Romeo acknowledged the impact of the last year on staff: “I am so grateful to everyone working in the social care sector, especially for their work over the past year during the pandemic.

    “It continues to be a very long, hard road with everyone very tired, especially following the recent Omicron outbreaks which compounded the stress on the whole health, social care and public services system.

    “I have been humbled by the efforts everyone has made to manage very challenging and uncertain times.”

    Social workers were also praised by minister for care and mental health, Gillian Keegan. she said: "Covid-19 has touched all of us in different ways, but as social workers, you not only had personal experience, you also witnessed its often devastating effects on others. I deeply admire your hard work, tenacity, understanding and kindness to everyone around you.

    "Along the way, I know many of you will have lost colleagues, friends, and family members to the virus. I hope the resilience, reflection and support of your profession has provided at least some comfort in those dark times."

    Keegan added as the UK emerged from the pandemic and in the face of the war in Eastern Europe "we will be turning to the profession for advice, guidance, leadership and support. Social workers understand the human condition, and the individual in their social and physical context, but also the capacity for people to do great things for others. They bring out the best in us and long may they continue to do so."

    Priorities for the year ahead outlined in the report include:

    • A pandemic recovery plan
    • Workforce training
    • Social care reform
    • Promoting and advising on investment in research, including further research for emerging issues
    • Ensuring the voice of people with lived experiences is at the heart of practice and care
    • Increasing the headcount of approved mental health professionals
    • Promoting the value of social work mental health expertise
    • Strengthening personalisation and choice within care and including people with lived experiences in designing new policy and guidance
    • Promoting improved practice on equality, diversity and inclusion, including access to continued professional development for all social care staff.

    In addition to the CSW report, Revisiting safeguarding practice guidance has also recently been published, encouraging practitioners and those responsible for adult safeguarding to reflect on and revisit their current practice.

    BASW was singled out for praise in the report, which is published by the Department of Health and Social Care.

    Work by BASW England on a pathway of development for social workers working with people with learning disabilities, and social work with autistic adults and their carers was highlighted as particularly strong.

    Other examples of good work included:

    • The development of guidance on how people with dementia can be supported with music therapies by Music for Dementia
    • Research in Practice’s continued support of the implementation of the post-qualifying standards for supervisors
    • Skills for Care’s roundtable on anti-racist social work in partnership with Social Work England
    • The leadership impact of Principal Social Workers in supporting social workers and practice

    The full report can be accessed here

    Date published
    18 May 2022

    Join us for amazing benefits

    Become a member

    Have a question?

    Contact us

    BASW: By your side, every step of the way

    British Association of Social Workers is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England. 

    Company number: 00982041

    Wellesley House, 37 Waterloo Street, 
    Birmingham, B2 5PP
    +44 (0) 121 622 3911

    Contact us

    Follow us

    Copyright ©2023 British Association of Social Workers | Site by Agile Collective | Privacy Policy

    • About social work
      • What is social work?
        • What social workers do
        • People with lived experience
        • Regulators & professional registration
        • World Social Work Day
      • Topics in social work
      • Professional Social Work (PSW) Magazine
        • Digital editions
        • Guidance for contributors
        • PSW articles
        • Advertising
    • Careers
      • Become a social worker
      • Returning to social work
      • For employers
      • Specialisms
      • Career stages
        • Self-Employed Social Workers
          • Your tax affairs working through umbrella service companies
        • Agency and locum social work
      • Jobs board
      • Work for BASW
        • BASW Council vacancies
        • Finance & Organisational Development Committee members
    • About BASW
      • Campaigning and influencing
        • Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Social Work
        • BASW in Westminster
        • General Election 2024
        • Relationship-based practice
        • Social Work Stands Against Poverty
        • This Week in Westminster | Blog Series
        • UK Covid Inquiry
        • Professional working conditions
        • Housing & Homelessness
      • Governance
        • BASW AGM and general meetings
          • 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
          • BASW GM 2025
          • Previous BASW AGMs
        • BASW Council
          • BASW Council biographies
          • BASW Council voting 2025
          • Vacancies on Council and committees 2025
        • Staff
        • Committees
        • BASW and SWU
        • Our history
        • 50 years
        • Special interest, thematic groups and experts
        • Nations
      • Social work around the UK
        • BASW Cymru
          • BASW Cymru Annual Conference 2024
          • Campaigns
        • BASW England
          • Campaigns
            • Homes Not Hospitals
            • Social Work in Disasters
            • 80-20 campaign
            • Review of Children’s Social Care
          • Meet the Team
            • BASW England Welcome Events
          • Our Services
            • Mentoring Service | BASW England
          • Social Work England
        • BASW Northern Ireland
          • About Us
          • Consultation responses
          • Find out about the BASW NI National Standing Committee
          • Political engagement
          • BASW NI & IASW's associate membership
          • BASW NI and Queen’s University Belfast launch affiliate membership
        • SASW (BASW in Scotland)
          • About Us
          • Mental Health Officer's Conference 2025
          • Our Work
            • Cross-Party Group on Social Work (Scotland)
            • Social Work Policy Panel
            • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
            • Supporting refugees
            • Campaigns
          • Coalitions & Partnerships
          • Get Involved
      • Awards
        • Amazing Social Workers
          • Amazing Social Workers profiles: Week 1
          • Amazing Social Workers profiles: Week 2
          • Amazing Social Workers profiles: Week 3
          • Amazing Social Workers profiles: Week 4
          • Amazing Social Workers profiles: Week 5
        • The BASW Social Work Journalism Awards
      • Social work conferences UK
        • BASW UK Student Conference 2025
        • The UK Social Work Conference 2025
          • Tickets and booking
          • Online programme
          • Speakers
          • BASW UK conference poster exhibition
          • Exhibitors
          • Social work conference programme
          • Venue and travel
          • Programme
      • International Work
        • Israel and Palestine/Gaza conflict | BASW/SWU Information Hub
        • IFSW and other international social work organisations
        • Influencing social work policy in the Commonwealth
        • Invasion of Ukraine | BASW Information Hub
      • Feedback, suggestions & complaints
    • Training & CPD
      • Professional Development
        • General Taught Skills Programme
        • Student Learning
        • Newly Qualified Social Worker Programme
        • Practice Educator & Assessor Programme
        • Stepping Stones Programme
        • Expert Insight Series
        • Social Work in Disasters online training
          • Module 1: Introduction to Social Work in Disasters (Online training)
          • Module 2: Law, Policy and Best Practice (Social Work In Disasters Training)
          • Module 3: Person-centred and research informed practice within a multi-agency context (Social Work in Disasters Online Training)
          • Module 4: Responding, using theory and self-care (Social Work in Disasters Online Training)
        • Overseas Qualified Social Worker (OQSW) Programme
      • Professional Capabilities Framework
        • About the PCF
        • Point of entry to training
        • Readiness for practice
        • End of first placement
        • End of last placement
        • Newly qualified social worker (ASYE level)
        • Social worker
        • Experienced social worker
        • Advanced social worker
        • Strategic social worker
      • Let's Talk Social Work Podcast
    • Policy & Practice
      • Resources
      • National policies
      • Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
      • Working with...
        • Older people
          • Learning resources
          • Useful resources to support social work capabilities with older people
        • Autistic people
          • An introduction to the Capability Statement
          • Capabilities Statement and CPD Pathway: Resources
            • Autistic adults toolkit
              • Autistic adults toolkit introduction
              • Feedback tool
              • Induction tool
              • Introduction to video: Sylvia Stanway - Autistic not broken
              • References
              • Reflective tool
              • The role of the social worker with autistic adults
              • Top tips
            • Organisational self-assessment tool
            • Post-qualifying training programmes
          • The Capabilities Statement for Social Work with Autistic Adults
        • People with learning disabilities
          • Introduction
          • Capabilities Statement and CPD Pathway: Resources
            • People with learning disabilities toolkit
              • People with learning disabilities toolkit introduction
              • Information sheet
              • Top tips
              • Induction tool
              • Reflective tool
              • References
              • Hair tool
            • Organisational self-assessment tool
            • Post-qualifying training programmes
          • The Capabilities for Social Work with Adults who have Learning Disability
      • Research and knowledge
        • Research journals
        • BASW bookshop
      • Standards
        • Code of Ethics
          • BASW Code of Ethics: Launch of 2021 refreshed version webinar
        • Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS)
        • Quality Assurance in Practice Learning (QAPL)
    • Support
      • Advice & representation
      • Insurance Cover
      • Social Workers Union (SWU)
      • Social Work Professional Support Service (SWPSS)
        • Become a volunteer coach (SWPSS)
      • Independent social workers
        • Independent member benefits
        • BASW Independents Toolkit
          • Section 1: Foundations for Independent Social Work
          • Section 2: Doing Independent Social Work
          • Section 3: Running your business
          • Section 4: Decisions and transitions
        • BASW Independents directory
        • Independents digital toolkit
        • Social Work Employment Services (SWES)
      • Student Hub
        • BASW Student Ambassador Scheme
      • Financial support
        • International Development Fund (IDF)
      • Groups and networks
        • Special interest groups
          • Alcohol and other drugs Special Interest Group
          • BASW Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group (NSW SIG)
          • Family Group Conferencing (FGC)
          • Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR)
          • The Diaspora special interest group
        • Special Interest Group on Social Work & Ageing
        • Independents local networks
        • Local branches (England)
        • Groups and forums (Scotland)
        • Thematic groups (England)
          • Black & Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium (BPS)
          • Children & Families Group
            • Children & Families Resources Library
            • Disabled Children's Sub-group
          • Criminal Justice Group
          • Emergency Duty Team Group
          • Mental Health Group
          • Professional Capabilities and Development Group
          • Social Work with Adults Group
          • Student & Newly Qualified Group
          • Social Workers in Health Group
        • Communities of Practice (Northern Ireland)
        • Networks (Wales)
      • Membership renewals
      • How to contact us
    • Why join BASW
      • Benefits of joining BASW
        • The BASW UK University Social Work Education Provider Affiliation Scheme
      • Membership Categories
        • Student member
        • Working (qualified less than 5 years) Membership
        • Working (qualified more than 5 years) Membership
        • Independent membership
        • Newly qualified social worker
        • Retired membership
        • Unemployed/unpaid membership
      • Membership FAQs
      • Membership renewals
      • Membership fees
    • Events
    • Media Centre
      • BASW in the media
      • BASW News and blogs