Scottish Parliament offers social work endorsement

The Scottish Parliament has given official backing to World Social Work Day and to Scotland’s wider National Social Care Week, a week of activities, commencing on 15 March, celebrating the work of caring professionals.

Twenty-two MSPs signed a motion supporting the week-long celebration of social work and social care, highlighting the estimated 650,000 people and their families who use social work services every year. The motion also cited research revealing that 84% of users rate services as good quality and 76% say that they help them to live more independenly.

The motion was put down by Christina McKelvie, a Scottish National Party MSP for Central Scotland, just a day ahead of a major BASW celebration of social work in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle. Part of BASW Scotland’s commemoration of World Social Work Day the evening event will see awards presented to an overall Social Worker of the Year, a Residential Care Worker of the Year and a Student Social Worker of the Year (Practice Award).

Minister Adam Ingram MSP is hosting the reception, where more than 150 social workers, their families and people who use social work services will gather to celebrate social work practice.

BASW Scotland manager Ruth Stark welcomed the “positive support from political leaders” in the Scottish Parliament.