Slow thinking- time to reflect

I hope you are doing as well as you can during this very difficult and testing time. I have found the last 6 months very challenging with suitable contract roles drying up, Consultants being furloughed and just generally a notably different work experience. It has been a reflective time for me with lots of walks, meditation and reading. I have thought more about the issues in Social Care and how Covid19 has impacted this. The dilemmas faced by Social Workers from our Diaspora remains a major concern and one we must work on as a Collective - there is added strength in numbers. So here I am a member of our newly formed NBBSW doing my first Blog. I am looking forward to assisting/supporting the Network with tackling the predicaments and difficulties we continually face and to see how we can work together to effect some positive changes. An area of concern is at the very start of the SW career journey we are noting higher failure rates for our ASYEs with contributory factors such as the lack of consistent support, “cherry picking” workers and a lack of diversity within teams. Concerns continue later on in the journey when many of our experienced Practitioners with knowledge and valuable insight in abundance are struggling to access Management and Leadership roles due to lack of opportunity, nepotism and discrimination. Having recently passed the 1st Anniversary (25-06-2020) of George Floyd’s murder. The resulting global momentum and growing awareness on the negative effects of discriminations must not be lost - there is still a long way to go but some very small inroads have started However, the continued low representation of Black Social Workers and the constant inequalities experienced In all areas of Social Care - Launch Meeting (17-04-2021) discussed a number of problems faced - as a Network we need to ensure Social Work England make good on their pledge to tackle this issue (M. Samuel: Community Care, 21-07-2020) and keeping our fingers on that pulse will instigate the effective modifications required for a more inclusive workforce. One of the aims of NBBSW’s is showing the importance of networking, remaining visible and staying focussed. Our mission to represent the voices of the minorities who can not speak out will be integral in reducing the divides so many of us experience in our professional life. “What you focus on Longest becomes the Strongest” Les Brown KR Dean