Role of the social worker is more essential now than ever

The forthcoming world conference on social work and social policy will be an opportunity to share best practice globally, by Dr Rory Truell.

Despite cuts on social services in many countries, the International Federation of Social Workers sees social workers rising to the challenges and helping to find practical solutions to the effects of the economic downturn.

At the World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in Stockholm in July, the theme is action and the impact of social work. Social workers are at the forefront of finding solutions for people.

The conference will be an opportunity to share knowledge of how the profession makes a positive impact on the lives of people throughout the world affected by poverty, isolation and oppression, people who are living with limited resources.

The conference is one of a series of events building the influence and momentum of social work globally. The initiative started in 2010 when three international social work and social development organisations joined forces to strengthen social workers’ ability to be effective.

The result is the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development: Commitments to Action. At the core of this strategy is the development of people’s capacity to work together to create sustainable social environments.

Whether the social worker is assisting nomadic tribes in Somalia with the distribution of goats to ensure everyone has access to a sustainable food and milk supplies, or working in a London hospital linking together wider family networks to support a vulnerable family member, the job is the same – it is about helping people to build their capacity for better futures.

This “global agenda” was widely applauded by the United Nations earlier this year when it was formally launched in five UN sites around the world.

Next year, the International Federation of Social Workers will be hosting another conference in South Africa to enable peoples targeted by development policy, their communities, and local social workers to share experiences and make recommendations on the sustainable development goals that will succeed the millennium development goals when they expire in 2015.

The federation urges countries such as England which are downscaling social work services to think again. In times of economic and social hardship, social workers have an even more essential role to play in helping individuals and families cope with sudden change, preventing ill-health, mental health problems, family breakdown and suicide and helping individuals and communities develop resilience to overcome hardship and make a positive contribution to society.

Dr Rory Truell is secretary general of the International Federation of Social Workers