Social work is rooted in justice and so is personalisation, says Jo Gray
W been about. Although the concept has only relatively recently
been introduced and is part of our everyday practice language now, having reflected on what the components of it mean to the service user, carer and practitioner, I think ‘personalisation’ is synonymous with social work’s core values and principles and as such underpins all aspects of our work. I have been a social worker since 1975, qualified since 1978 and am still registered. I am proud to be a social worker and think we have a unique professional place. If we didn’t exist we would have to be invented. However, we are notoriously bad at articulating what we do, let alone being proud of it. We are whole-systems thinkers with a rich eclectic theory base to draw upon and our practice tool kits are evidence based. Our core values are rooted in social justice, with the most vulnerable and excluded members of the community being our first priority. We have always tried to keep people at the
centre, to ensure that their voices are heard, and their wishes and feelings are known. And it is one of our many professional responsibilities to advocate on their behalf. The current policy context is in tune with our core
values and represents a huge opportunity for us to articulate and demonstrate social work’s particular contribution, to use the new freedoms to work as we would always have wanted to, while at the
Jo Gray is divisional director, adult safeguarding and practice development, Bath & North East Somerset Council
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hen I was asked to write something on this topic, I couldn’t resist the opportunity because, for me, the concept of personalisation captures what good social work has always
same time ensuring service users are safeguarded. Balancing risk enablement and service-user safety is a challenge. However, social workers have legislative support through the Human Rights Act and Mental Capacity Act. Personal budgets are a good example. Many people need minimal social work input but for others it is much more complicated and challenging. I think that without the particular skills of social
workers, some of the most vulnerable would face barriers in accessing the best of these opportunities. It could be seen as too risky, too dangerous and with seemingly insurmountable practical difficulties to be overcome.
I am proud to be a social worker and think we have a unique professional
place. If we didn’t exist we would have to be invented. However, we are notoriously bad at articulating what we do, let alone being proud of it
As social workers, we understand resistance to change and have experience in intervening with individuals, families and groups to build capacity and confidence to make changes. The personalisation agenda is no different. We
know at times this includes members of our profession who need to make shifts in their attitudes and practice. I am passionate about the role social work has
to play in supporting vulnerable adults, children and young people. I believe our professional contribution is unique in its breadth and complexity. We must now fully embrace the opportunity
that the current emphasis on personalisation offers us to claim the acknowledgement and respect we deserve as a profession, not least to empower us to support the people we serve.