Speaking up for social workers

UNISON is speaking up for social workers.

We believe you do a vital job supporting children, adults and families in vulnerable situations.

Yet at times it seems like social workers get little credit but plenty of blame

Little credit for helping to improve the lives of tens of thousands of people with multiple and complex problems.

Plenty of blame when a tragedy or a crime has not been prevented, or when social workers are condemned as over-zealous and interfering.

People in need deserve social workers who have the time and resources to support them properly. And, because of the difficult job you do, you need a union that supports you.

We want a better deal for social workers – better pay and safer working conditions, reduced workloads and the right tools to do the job.

We also believe it’s vital that social workers have a strong voice in the current debate on the future of social work.

If you’re a social worker, join UNISON today.

Story: Child social worker, Laura Aspinall

Latest updates

Cutting caseloads would save lives

(29/7/10) UNISON today reiterated its call for strict controls on social work caseloads after a new report showed just one in five social workers thought they had enough time to work effectively with the children they are responsible for.

Report into the death of Khyra Ishaq: UNISON reaction

(27/7/10) UNISON has called for significant improvements to management practices in Birmingham City Council following the Birmingham Safeguarding Children Board’s report into the tragic death of Khyra Ishaq, the young girl who died in Birmingham in May 2008

Time to give social workers some credit: UNISON award scheme targets unsung achievements

(12/7/10) UNISON has launched an award scheme for outstanding social work and members are being encouraged to nominate social workers for their achievements in making a difference to the lives of vulnerable people.

Social work review - UNISON response

(10/6/10) UNISON warns that any review of child protection should not waste precious time going over old ground, but should use the Social Work Taskforce recommendations as its starting point.

C4 Dispatches report into children's social services - UNISON reaction

(8/6/10) Excessive workloads and massive recruitment problems have dogged Surrey County Council’s social services department for years, said public sector union, UNISON today (8 June), in the wake of the Channel 4 Dispatches programme – the Undercover Social Worker.

Call for government to sign up to social work reforms

(26/5/10) UNISON and Community Care are calling on the new Government to support safer conditions for social workers by signing up to a programme of reforms, on the day that the General Social Care Council (GSCC) disciplinary panel reached its decision on the misconduct of the two social workers involved in the Baby P case.

Baby P social workers - UNISON response

(26/5/10) UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, today welcomed the decision not to strike social workers Maria Ward and Gillie Christou from the GSCC register permanently.

Social workers raise concerns about personal budgets in social care

(19/5/10) Social workers and managers in social care have raised serious concerns about the roll out of personal budgets, in a survey commissioned by UNISON, the UK’s leading public sector trade union, and Community Care.

What UNISON social workers really really want: curbs on workload, career progression, quality supervision

UNISON carried out a poll of members to find out which of the Social Work Task Force recommendations are their biggest priority.

Chair of Social Work Reform Board urges employers to get on with ‘health check’ for social workers

Moira Gibb, Social Work Reform Board Chair and previously Chair of the Task Force, has written to all employers of social workers to urge them to carry out the recommended workload ‘health check’, with the full participation of front-line practitioners and their local union representatives.

Birmingham council should get facts straight over social services

PRESS RELEASE: (19/03/2010) Care should be taken before making misleading and irresponsible claims.

UNISON launches ad campaign to speak up for social workers

PRESS RELEASE: (15/03/2010) Ads will highlight the important role social workers play.

Your say Mail us your views and comments

Your say on social work We believe it's vital that social workers have a strong voice in the debate about the future of social work. That's why we're asking for your views on all aspects of social work. Your say