SASW Team Weekly Roundup

Find out what the team in Scotland have been doing on behalf of members this week

We submitted our response to a call for evidence from the Education and Skills Committee of the Scottish Parliament on the Disabled Children & Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill. Read it, here. 

Together with Social Work Scotland, we submitted a paper to the Equalities and Human Rights Committee on the impact of Covid-19 on equalities and human rights which you can read, here. 

Alison met with the Chief Social Work Advisor to Scottish Government and asked for a variety of clarifications around the processes of vaccination and testing for social workers. It was agreed that the Chief Social Work Advisor's office would support our communications for members working in local authorities, the Third Sector, and as independent social workers. 

We had a very positive meeting with The Alliance with Professor Ian Welsh and others resulting in us beginning to look at ways we can work together on joint issues and how we can make best use of both organisations communications, to connect with organisations and individuals who use our services. 

Some of you have contacted us about the Scottish Government Guidance which means that fewer of you are entitled to keyworker access to childcare and education during the current restrictions.  SASW has raised these concerns with COSLA and the Pandemic Response Adult Social Care Group, asking for recognition about the impact of this on the wider health and social care sector as well as on the capacity on individuals to work effectively and with confidentiality at home.

Karin met with IRISS, alongside other stakeholders, to discuss how the organisation can support the work work sector in 2021 and beyond. She highlighted the impact of covid-19 on working conditions, including working in isolation, facing ethical dilemmas, and having difficulty switching off after work when working from home, as well as the impacts of cuts in the context of ever-increasin gdemands, mental health and a lack of appropriate learning opportunities for students in placements and also for newly qualified workers. 

We attended/facilitated the SPEDI meeting (Social Work in emergencies and disasters) which is trying to create a framework that allows social workers to utilise their particular skill set in order to be of support in emergencies and disasters. The group also looks at how we can ensure that social workers feel prepared to deal with and work in disasters and emergencies. 

We met with Fulton MacGregor, MSP, to discuss the issues facing the social work profession, our upcoming Manifesto and the Hustings Event we have planned for March 2021, more will be shared on this in due course.