Reclaim Social Work

Consultant Social Workers Speak Out

‘Reclaiming social work’ in Hackney: Letter in Community Care 27 November 2008

There has been a lot of debate about Hackney’s “reclaiming social work” model (“Why the Hackney model is doomed”, (letters, Community Care 109203).

One of the key debates about the Hackney model has been the level of responsibility versus the level of support for consultant social workers (CSWs). The running of the unit and decision making is the responsibility of the CSW, with tasks allocated to unit members based on their skills and experience. The multi-disciplinary aspect of the unit enables staff to provide direct work, practical support, and statutory social work services from their individual disciplines. The collaborative aspect means staff rely on and support each other.

Management support in Hackney is consistent and frequent across the units. Our decision-making as CSWs is monitored and supported very strongly. Within the units, assessments and decisions are made by a consensus of workers, and subject to constant challenging and adjustment. We find the unit decision-making model is rigorous and flexible, and results in better outcomes for families.

It has been a remarkable first year for the Reclaiming Social Work project. It will be successful because it is inspiring, because it acknowledges that what the profession has been doing for the past decade has not been good enough.

Martin Purbrick, CSW Children In Need Unit 11,
Fiona Brew, CSW Rapid Response Unit 4,
Stephen Rice, CSW Rapid Response Unit 2,
Debbie Kerr, CSW Rapid Response Unit 1,
London Borough of Hackney, Children and Young People’s Service

Read the full transcript of the Community Care Letter (58.5KB)