Professor says Birmingham social workers need to be backed by the council and community

Oct 7 2009 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail

A TOP UK academic in social care today called on the council and community to back the social workers who do the “difficult job” on the front line.

Dr Ray Jones, a professor of social work at Kingston University, in South West London, said the Birmingham report has highlighted lessons that should have already been learnt.

Dr Jones, who is also a former director of social services for Wiltshire County Council, spent a year at the helm of the Social Care Institute for Excellence.

He said: “The Birmingham case highlights lessons that have to be learned and ones that should have already been learned.

“The key is that social workers need to be well resourced, well supervised and there needs to be enough of them.

“It is particularly difficult for social workers because they are only brought to the attention of everyone when something tragic happens. The rest of the time they’re forgotten about and they do not get the necessary support they need for the difficult work they do.

“A lot of the good work does not get the recognition and all the focus is on the blame when things go wrong. It is not a good recipe for morale, recruitment or for keeping people in the job.

“The major responsibility obviously rests with the social workers, but they need the help and support of people in the community.”