Mithran Samuel

Social workers split over replacing DoLS with Liberty Protection Safeguards, poll finds - Community Care In light of the upcoming consultation on the new deprivations of liberty system, we gauged social workers' opinions on whether it will strengthen safeguards for vulnerable people

Will the Liberty Protection Safeguards weaken human rights protections or reduce intrusion into the lives of young people/adults and their families? Find out what social workers think here: www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/05/s...

We extend our huge congratulations to Joanna Macdonald, who has been announced as the new National Chief Social Work Advisor and Chief Executive of the new National Social Work Agency.

Promoting Open Justice in the Court of Protection Post by @OpenJusticeCoP.

Day 2 of the Supreme Court Hearing reconsidering Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Tuesday 21st October

See our website for a summary of Day 1 and details of how to follow on the livestream:
openjusticecourtofprotection.org

Coram launches nationwide call for adoption stories to mark 100th anniversary of The Adoption of Children Act 1926 - Coram Coram is calling for people across the country to share their stories of adoption, to mark the centenary of The Adoption of Children Act in 2026.

To mark the start of National Adoption Week, @wearecoram.bsky.social has launched a call for adoption stories to mark next year's centenary of the legislation that created the first legal framework for adoption #adoption #socialwork #childrenincare www.coram.org.uk/news/coram-n...

This apparent shift in the government's position is very welcome news. 👏

In the summer, we wrote to the government alongside @adass.bsky.social urging them to implement LPS, which has been put on the back burner for too long. It's encouraging that Ministers have listened and responded.

This is a wonderfully-written and hugely affecting piece from a care experienced woman about her (woeful) time in the system. Well worth your time #childrenincare #socialcare

Government's £500m to tackle 'poverty pay' in social care 'barely scratches surface', warn providers - Community Care Funding to implement adult social care pay agreement to come from £4bn boost to sector coffers announced in government spending review

Not a lot of love for the £500m announced by @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social for adult social care's first fair pay agreement based on the comments I received for this article #lowpay #adultsocialcare #labourpartyconference

Big changes proposed today for social care for disabled children by Law Commission: a duty to meet need, with national eligibility criteria, rights to advocacy for children and parents/carers, rights for children to take/participate in decisions #socialcare www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/16/n...

BASW argues for key changes to assisted dying legislation The proposals will be debated in the House of Lords this week

Find out more ⬇️

basw.co.uk/articles/bas...

Quarter of children's services now rated outstanding by Ofsted - Community Care Proportion of councils rated outstanding by Ofsted for children's services has doubled since 2021, finds Community Care analysis

This feels like good news. 25% of council children's services are rated outstanding by @ofstednews.bsky.social. Four years ago it was 13%. However, no reduction in proportion of inadequate-rated councils and big regional disparities in share of outstanding ones #socialwork #childrensocialcare

There have been strong critical sentiments expressed about the Social Worker Awards previously. But I think this is the first time that I have seen someone actually refuse a nomination. I would have thought people would be asked prior to being listed?
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...

Huge rise in fitness to practise concerns about social workers - Community Care Rise driven by concerns from members of the public, the overwhelming majority of which are rejected by regulator at initial stage

Interesting stats from @community-care.bsky.social . Just 3 out of 730 referrals to Social Work England by the public end up with removal from the register (0.4%). Compared to 14 of 228 referrals from employers (6%). Those 17 removals equate to 0.016% of SWs.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/14/h...

Malcolm Dean obituary Founder of the Guardian’s Society section who stood for the SDP/Liberal Alliance in the 1983 and 1987 general elections

Very nice obit for the outstanding journalist #MalcomDean. I was lucky enough to know him in his advisory roles to my work and he always asked the right questions and challenged our research conclusions www.theguardian.com/media/2025/j...

Rare good news for social care

A graphic featuring the Foundations Evidence into Practice badge. This badge represents uniting the two areas of Evidence and Practice into a mutual and complementary whole. The Foundations logo is integrated into the badge. The text to the right of this says: "Local area funding call for Partner Places. Find out more: foundations.org.uk".

Calling local authorities 📢 *Evidence into Practice* work with us to turn evidence into action to help strengthen children's services 👇

Find out more about our major new call to select 9 local authorities to partner with us to transform children’s outcomes: foundations.org.uk/launch-of-ne...

Munro: children's social care reforms 'very likely to fail' due to scale of change and lack of testing - Community Care Eileen Munro questions overhaul of child protection conference chair role and raises concerns about non-social work qualified staff taking on cases

Eileen Munro argues that ongoing reforms, based on the #MacAlisterReview are "very likely to fail" and that professionals are just being "inundated with guidance and rules" From @community-care.bsky.social
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/07/03/m...

Don't think Access Social Care are on here...but they are looking for people who use adult social care services to test their new audit service for free - is the support you are getting in line with your legal entitlement?
www.accesscharity.org.uk/news-blog/ca...

Are you a social worker in England with experience in coastal communities? We are looking for social workers and ex-social workers with experience working in coastal communities to participate in an important research study. Your insights and expertise can make a real impact on understanding the unique workforce challenges faced in these communities. If you have experience of practicing social work in coastal communities, either currently or previously, we want to hear from you. Participate in an interview and contribute to meaningful research that will shape future support strategies. For doing so you will be compensated with a £25 Amazon (or other store of your choice) voucher. If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact: coastalsocialwork@bucks.ac.uk. This research is a collaboration between Buckinghamshire New University, The Open University, Bath Spa University and Edge Hill University. It is funded by the National Institute for Health and Social Care Research. Thank you Professor Jermaine Ravalier (Research Lead)

Our research team (@ciaranmmmurphy.bsky.social et al.) are still looking to recruit more social workers and former social workers with experience of working in coastal communities in England. If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact: coastalsocialwork@bucks.ac.uk.

Black children and families - Coram Adoption

Today with @cvaauk.bsky.social & other voluntary #adoption agencies we have launched a new guide to raise awareness of the need for more adoptive parents for children of Black & other diverse ethnicities who are waiting for a family.

Download the free guide: www.coramadoption.org.uk/who-can-adop...

SWU General Secretary welcomed the opportunity to share member feedback on the @socialworkengland.bsky.social fee increase proposal. A positive meeting with SWE CEO to highlight SWU concerns about an increase, ensuring any increase provides value for money for social workers, and greater efficiency.

Fabricated or induced illness in England: Examining mortality and serious harm Fabricated or Induced Illness (FII) is a term used in England since 2002 to describe situations where a parent or caregiver either exaggerates a child’s sy

Here's my new article on mortality due to Fabricated or Induced Illness in England. It challenges the exaggeration of mortality in procedures which say up to 10% die and found no deaths in England over a 12 year period. Please rt
academic.oup.com/bjsw/advance...

Get me to hospital - SCIE | Claire Webster 📢It's here - Get Me To Hospital A guide for people, families and practitioners when supporting someone to go to hospital who is deemed as unable to make the decision and is refusing. Co-produce...

Sometimes social media does good things - new guidance out today:
www.linkedin.com/posts/claire...

Social Workers: Are you supporting families out of your own pocket?

A new SWU & @itvnews.bsky.social survey will help build a national picture of the hidden costs of poverty and the pressures on frontline workers.

Please take part and share with colleagues: www.surveymonkey.com/r/SWUITV25

Last week the House of Lords debated the #ChildrensWellbeingBill.
Baroness Longfield spoke passionately about family group conferences. The Bill’s wording on FGDM is too vague. We already have a proven model: the family group conference — truly family-led, not tick-box.

Finalists announced!

The BASW Social Work Journalism Awards 2025 celebrate powerful, informed reporting on social work across the UK.

Congrats to all shortlisted journalists. Winners revealed at our 10 June conference!

🔗Find out the full list of finalists here: basw.co.uk/articles/fin...

NEW POST: 165,000 children are homeless, many of whom are neurodivergent. KCL Researchers @rosalie-warnock.bsky.social ‪@kbrickell.bsky.social want to hear from families of #neurodivergent children who have experience of living in temporary accommodation www.specialneedsjungle.com/c...

NEW PUBLICATION 📢 Our research shows that #FamilyGroupConferences can keep children safely with their families. Today we’ve published a resource to help local leaders implement FGCs effectively & ensure families get the right support at the right time 👩‍👦

foundations.org.uk/our-work/res...

What will ending overseas recruitment mean for adult social care? - Community Care Ministers' decision to stop overseas recruitment into adult social care has caused sector outrage. We look at what it means for staffing levels

What does ending overseas recruitment mean for adult social care? www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/05/14/w... #adultsocialcare #immigration

But it also means asking Qs about the effectiveness of what we do now. Do we really get full value for £32bn of public #socialcare spending? How can we not just meet need but prevent it? Can new models/technology save money while still delivering good care? Key issues for Casey.

Cafcass demands apology for psychologist's 'offensive' comments at Proudman book launch Barrister accuses child safeguarding body of seeking to muzzle a woman 'speaking out for abuse survivors'.

Cafcass writes to psychologist over comments at Charlotte Proudman book launch

www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/cafcass...