Entire BASW NI committee resigns saying the organisation has “failed Northern Ireland”

The entire Northern Ireland committee of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has resigned, leaving the organisation without any elected committee members in the region and prompting calls for a new professional association for social workers in Northern Ireland.

The departure of the committee's six remaining members follows the resignation of eight members earlier this year, including the committee's chair and both vice-chairs.

A central complaint surrounded the shake up of BASW’s National Directors in September which saw long-term Northern Ireland National Director Carolyn Ewart replaced by Dr Jane Shears, who would now oversee operations in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In a resignation letter sent to BASW Chief Executive Sam Baron following a meeting in Belfast on 19 May, the six resigning committee members said the association “no longer has a mandate to speak for social work and social workers in NI.”

“The claim to want a genuinely UK BASW does not match with the impact of the actions taken, where NI has clearly been expendable,” the letter states.

The resigning members have linked their concerns to BASW UK's financial difficulties and organisational restructuring undertaken last year.

Speaking to Social Work Today, Avery Bowser, one of the resigning committee members, said the decision was “extremely difficult” to take.

“It's a very disappointing time, but we've reached a bit of a watershed moment where something had to happen, and it's happened.”

The resigning members outline a series of criticisms of BASW's handling of its affairs in Northern Ireland, with the former committee members claiming that concerns about membership levels, governance and finances had not been addressed over a prolonged period.

Avery said that many of those resigning from the committee felt they were put in an “untenable position” due to the Association’s changed approach to representing social work and social workers in Northern Ireland, and a lack of clarity around the Association’s finances.

“The views in the room were that people were leaving because they didn't feel that BASW reflected their values anymore or didn't reflect social work values.

“A number felt professionally compromised by continuing to be on committee. I think anybody who was a director on council is also, to my view, personally exposed because of the lack of clarity and transparency around financial matters.”

On finances, Avery adds that due diligence questions had been asked ‘repeatedly’ as the committee sought to find out how the Association found itself in the position of making large-scale restructures.

“There is a narrative around that. That's not a compelling narrative. I'm not also personally confident that things have improved in terms of transparency going forward and that's just … you just can't work in that environment. Particularly when, this is a membership organisation.”

BASW, however, disputes this. Dr Jane Shears, BASW Director Scotland & Northern Ireland said that since 2025’s leadership changes, they have “provided clarity to members via several transparent updates on our financial position, including an update from the Chair in February, followed by an in-depth summary by interim CEO Sam Baron in March. BASW ‘s finances are now stable and healthy; however, difficult decisions were needed to achieve this stability going forwards.”

Avery said the resigning members have now taken the view that what is needed is to look at setting up a separate association for social workers in Northern Ireland.

“I think what is really, really important for Northern Ireland is that social workers have credible representation in Northern Ireland and it's badly needed, because our services are in crisis and have been for a long time. and there needs to be a credible social work voice, speaking to government, speaking to assembly members, visibly representing, the views of members in Northern Ireland and their priorities. That'll take some time to form, but I think I'm certainly up for talking to anybody who wants to do that and talk about how we do it better this time.”

Responding to the announcement of the departures, Dr Jane Shears, BASW Director Scotland & Northern Ireland, continued: “We are disappointed that six members of the BASW NI Committee have taken the decision to step down and that they did not share our vision for a stable and strong BASW NI Committee at this time. Social workers do a job which is tirelessly, ethically, and physically daunting and we must support them at all times.

“Looking ahead we are finalising a robust five year plan for growth across all BASW nations, including increasing resources for all our nations. BASW remains committed to a 4-nation organisation which includes our members in Northern Ireland.

“We will now move forward by opening opportunities to invite new committee members who can represent and champion the needs of social workers in Northern Ireland.

“Importantly, membership benefits and services available to our members in Northern Ireland will continue as normal and remain fully in place.

“We remain absolutely commitment [sic] to advocating the vital role and value of social work in supporting individuals, families, and communities across Northern Ireland.”