Championing better social work practice – not alone, but as a collective

Before you scroll through past the opportunity to become the next Chair of the PSW, take a pause.  

Our role as PSWs has never been more important. We are in the unique position of being close enough to front line practitioners to deeply understand the practices and standards that are working well, and those that need to change. While this insight may sometimes be exasperating, it also gives us a unique opportunity to develop and improve things: not only practice, but also to the wider practice system and operating conditions we all work in.  

Anyone who has tried to champion change know how hard it is to make such changes alone. It’s as a collective that we can really make a difference. Our network is the home of shared insight, and it is the role of the Chairs above all that can harness this insight of our peers – the PSWs up and down the country who walk in our shoes – and do something useful with it. Challenge, influence and collaboration are central to the role of the Chair of the Network. 

It’s vital that this expertise is heard loud and clear by government and Chief Social Workers to bring reflection and challenge. By facilitating the network, the Chairs can facilitate debate within the network and channel this voice from the ground and use it to influence government. Representing the PSW voice they work with government to ensure social work and social workers are heard at the policy table. 

For PSWs who have experienced this role, it has been a time of great personal learning and development alongside the satisfaction of serving our network of peers. Through chairing the network and working with the Chief Social Workers and wider system, they know they have played their part in improving outcomes through seeking to change the policy affecting the practice, standards and conditions of practitioners. 

For those who are interested, this unique opportunity to take up the baton and represent the PSW voice within policy-making offers incredible potential to ensure that all policy decisions are informed by current practice experience. 

Lee Pardy-Mclaughlin is PSW at Stoke on Trent City Council.