SASW welcomes new Chair and Members to National Standing Committee

Following a successful election process as long standing committee members reach the end of their tenure, SASW is delighted to announce the appointment of a new Chair and five new Committee Members to our National Standing Committee. 

On the new appointments, SASW National Director Alistair Brown said:

"It's extremely encouraging to have such fresh interest in the leadership and governance of the only independent professional association for social workers. Issues of professional identity and our core values of equality, human rights and social justice are more keenly felt than ever in the current context. We are delighted to have new voices from around the country and representing different specialisms to join our current hard working committee members. We want to particularly acknowledge the contribution of those who are moving on having served the association for the 4 year term or 6 years of Chair/Vice Chair. These include Shirley Cusack and Cath Fergus-Allen who have made sure we were relevant in the areas of disability and maternal mental health. We also particularly note the additional work provided by Outgoing Chair Shirley Melvin and Past Chair David Thomson who have served on BASW Council providing a steer to the wider organisation as well as a link with the work of SASW to the wider developments of the profession in the UK and internationally." 

On the appointment of Jude Currie as Chair, and on the outgoing Chair and Vice-Chair, BASW Chair Gerry Nosowska, said: 

“I am delighted to welcome Jude as the new chair of the Scottish Association. Jude will bring a wonderful combination of practice expertise and thoughtful leadership. I look forward to working more closely with her. I am grateful for the work of Shirley Melvin and David Thomson during their time on BASW Council.”

More detailed bio's on all National Standing Committee Members will be shared in due course. The new appointments are as follows:

Jude Currie (Chair)

Jude's predominant area of practice experience is with children and families spanning voluntary, statutory and youth work sectors. She has an interest in the relationship between social work and community development and considers isolation, loneliness and poverty - social and financial - as growing priorities for social work practice with whatever age group or sector over the coming years. She is interested in promoting social work’s role as a vocal profession that invests in local communities. She has served on the Committee in Scotland for a year and is a vocal rep for membership of the Association.   

Caroline McDonald

Caroline is a Children and Families social worker, an area of practice that she is passionate and enthusiastic about. Since she began her social work training, she has recognised the value of relationship-based practice and its something she has championed and woven through her own practice as a social worker. She is particularly interested in social justice, gender inequality, immigration and human rights. This reaches across her professional practice and personal interests too. 

Sarah Kerr

Sarah is passionate about advocacy in her role as a social worker and works hard to provide families with the tools and support they need to ensure their views are expressed.  She feels that this is particularly important when their views differ from those of professionals and  she actively encourages parents and children/young people to express their views. Being raised by two social workers, Sarah has always been passionate about the profession; she is currently involved with a local charity on a voluntary basis looking at supporting families to access material goods for their babies and young children.  

Christine Gray

Christine is currently undertaking a PhD at The University of Stirling and has worked for 7 years in frontline local authority children and families and child protection and duty teams before moving in to the third sector to begin developing a service for young survivors of sexual violence and their families. She is passionate about protecting children and young people and developing the communities around them. She currently lectures on the Child Abuse and Neglect module at the University of Stirling where she also supports a group of post-graduate social work students on placement. 

Graham Hall

Graham is currently a Senior Practitioner in the North East Locality Children and Families Team where he has worked since August 2004. Prior to starting his Social Work course in 2002 he worked for four years at RAFT, the Barnardo’s residential unit for primary aged children.  Graham has a particular interest in how poverty, social injustice and gender inequality impact both on the people social workers work with, with and their capacity to provide them with the support they need.

Jo Savege

Jo is currently practicing as a Mental Health Officer in a specialist project relating to Adults with Incapacity legislation and hospital discharge. She is also employed on a sessional basis in an emergency social work team. She has had long term historical involvement in forensic mental health services. She is registered with BASW as an independent social worker and is a social services member for Scottish Social Services Council Fitness to Practice panels.