Hosted by Director of Social Work, Mary Brazier and Executive Director of Integrated Care and Deputy Chief Executive, Richard Fradgley, over 100 social workers from across ELFT attended the conference.
The event was opened by Mary, who acknowledged the current challenging social context and the role that social workers play in identifying and combatting racism.
The conference focussed on the importance of social work within the NHS. Robert Lewis (Mental Health Social Work Lead, Department of Health & Social Care) provided an overview of the proposed changes to the Mental Health Act. He also spoke about how social workers will be instrumental in shaping future practices of Approved Mental Health Professionals (AMHPs), as well as the community mental health offer in response to these changes.
Social work research was a key theme of the day. Laura Tucker (Research Associate, University of York) and our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) social worker Gladys Bozorgisaran presented research they had undertaken. Gladys focussed on social workers’ migration to the UK, social networks and job/life satisfaction.
In the afternoon, colleagues were joined by the Deputy Directors for Adult Social Care from Central Bedfordshire and Hackney, along with Bailey Mitchell (Borough Director for Newham) and Edwin Ndlovu MBE (Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive), who all engaged in Q&A sessions.
The final session provided an overview of the social work survey results, and how social workers will be instrumental to the 10 Year Health Plan for England.
The conference was closed by ELFT’s Chief Executive, Lorraine Sunduza OBE. She reiterated the value which social workers bring to ELFT and recognised the difficult and complex work which social workers undertake. Lorraine’s closing message was to look after others, so staff can support one another and support the communities served.
Thank you to all social workers who attended.