The Children and Families Group is made up of BASW England members with a special interest in this area of social work. Members of the group are responsible for leading BASW England's position on Children and Families Social Work and assisting in the development of policy, practice and education. The group is comprised of members with extensive experience and expertise across all areas of child and family social work, inclusive of social workers in direct practice, academics, those who work in the third sector, and more.

Members of the Group

Co-chairs: Rick Hood and Judy Walsh   Vice Chair: James Blewett

Members: Paul Angeli, Janet Ayoola, Anna Glinski, Sarah Goff, Ann Horne, Gemma Hunt, Charlotte Jenkins, Millie Kerr, Abisola Kukoyi, Denise McLean, Catherine Moore, Ana Olea Fernández, Rachael Owens, Lavina Simpson, Fiona Tharme, June Thoburn, and Carolyne Willow.

The group also supports the Disabled Children's Sub-group.

We run regular lunchtime forums on different topics in children and families social work. See our upcoming sessions here. 

Email england@basw.co.uk for more information about how to get involved.

Purpose of the Group

The group’s purpose is to support and assist the England Committee in fulfilling its remit by providing a specialist perspective and advice to further the implementation of BASW's 2020 and 2025 Vision. The group reports to the England Committee, and is tasked to:

  • Be accountable to and inform the England Committee of group members’ views and perceptions of issues relevant to social workers and social work and in line with the England Committee business plan.
  • Provide a focus for BASW members to inform BASW England’s strategy on child and family social work practice and policy through consultations and webinars.
  • Ensuring the voice of social work is heard in the development of social work policy, practice, legislation and education in England, through both campaigning and responding to consultations.
  • Enhance the debate and raise public awareness on these issues across England through proactive engagement with the media and on social media. 
  • Develop statements and activity on social work policy, practice, legislation, research and education on behalf of the England Committee.
  • Engaging with members to provide opportunities to develop and support practice through webinars, forums and regular updates. 

Current Priority Areas

Current priority areas include:

Previous & Ongoing Areas of Work

  • The government's response to the review of children's social care
  • The social work response to family homelessness  
  • Social work interface with the Family Courts
  • Practice and Guidance on children in care including foster care, adoption, residential care (especially ‘unregulated’ placements), leaving care 
  • The social work response to families in poverty
  • The response to the IICSA report on child sexual abuse including the recommendation for mandatory reporting
  • Social work policies and practice with refugee families and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children 

See More

80-20 Campaign

80-20 Campaign

The 80:20 campaign aims to reverse the current trend in social work where practitioners are spending most of their time on administrative and process driven tasks, rather than on building relationships.