Society will break down if social work suffers cuts warn BASW

England will face a double blow if Social Work services are cut as the financial crisis affects more and more vulnerable families that are hitting the poverty line and struggling to cope, say the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

As the new coalition government tackle public spending cuts, Hilton Dawson, Chief Executive of BASW called for Social Workers to receive special protection from cuts. Speaking at Community Care Live in London yesterday, he said: “Social Workers are already working under appalling conditions whilst protecting vulnerable adults and children. The profession was under supported and neglected in the years of plenty so it would be outrageous to cut services that are already completely over stretched now – people who use Social Work services and society will suffer directly as a result.

The impact of the financial crisis upon the lives of the vast numbers of vulnerable people in England is huge and Social Work reaches out to these people and families when other services have abandoned them. It would be an early mark of distinction to the coalition if they were to give Social Work the recognition it deserves.”

Hilton Dawson attended an annual meeting of Social Workers from 23 countries in Europe last weekend where it was acknowledged that the situation in the UK is particularly acute due to the lack of priority given to the Social Work profession by the government. Funding specifically for England is inadequate and the settlements in the devolved countries do not reflect the importance of the profession. Cuts to front line services would be absolutely devastating.