New Cross-Party Group launched to champion social work at Westminster

A new Cross-Party Group for Social Work has been launched in Westminster to strengthen the voice of the profession in Parliament and help address the growing pressures faced by social workers.

Chaired by Ian Byrne MP, the group brings together politicians from across the political spectrum in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. It is being coordinated by the Social Workers Union (SWU) with support from the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).

The first meeting of the group introduced MPs and peers to the organisations’ joint campaign, “Stronger Social Work, Better Lives”, which highlights the impact of unsustainable workloads, excessive bureaucracy and chronic underfunding on both practitioners and the people they support.

The campaign calls for adequate and safe staffing levels, sustainable workloads, proper funding and investment in social work services, better opportunities for professional development, recognition and respect for social work expertise, and improved mental health and wellbeing support for practitioners.

Ian Byrne MP said: “Social workers play a vital role supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society, but too often their voices are ignored and their working conditions neglected.

“This cross-party group will ensure social work issues are given the political attention they deserve, helping to drive change in policy and practice so that social workers can do their jobs safely and effectively.”

John McGowan, General Secretary of the Social Workers Union, said the group’s creation marked an important moment for the profession.

“This is a significant step forward in making sure the voices of frontline social workers are heard in Parliament. We’ve seen the toll that unmanageable caseloads, poor pay and lack of support are taking on the workforce.

“The creation of this cross-party group, our ongoing Campaign Fund and our joint campaign with BASW, sends a clear message that social workers deserve respect, resources and recognition for the essential work they do every day.”

The launch event was attended by a number of parliamentarians, including Rachael Maskell MP, Shokat Adam MP, Andy McDonald MP, Ian Lavery MP, Chris Webb MP, Cat Smith MP, Will Forster MP, Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, and Lord Alf Dubs.

Emma Lewell MP, who is joining the Cross-Party Group as an SWU Ambassador, said:

“As a former social worker, I know first-hand the dedication it takes to stand up for people who need support – and how difficult that can be when working conditions make it difficult to do the job properly.

“This new Cross-Party Group is a vital step in giving social workers the platform they deserve in Westminster. We owe it to the profession, and to the communities they serve, to make sure their voices shape the policies that affect them and the people they help every day.”

In the coming months, the group will explore key issues affecting the workforce, including workload pressures, recruitment and retention, mental health, and the impact of government policy on frontline practice.

SWU and BASW are encouraging members of the profession and the public to contact their MPs and ask them to support the “Stronger Social Work, Better Lives” campaign by promoting it in Parliament and advocating for improvements to social workers’ working conditions.