16 March 2020
Social workers are being celebrated for the positive contribution they make to communities across the Island as part of a global event to recognise their work.
World Social Work Day tomorrow will promote the ‘importance of human relationships’ with a series of competitions and events around the world. A photography competition on this year’s theme has been organised by Highlands College and Les Amis and is currently on display at Jersey Library until Saturday 21 March. Both the winners of the judging panel and the public vote will be announced tomorrow evening.
Isabel Watson, chief social worker and Head of Adult Social Care, said: “In keeping with the theme of World Social Work Day, we have organised an interactive task for the team so they can, if they wish, stick a leaf on the ‘relationship tree’ and write what the word ‘relationships’ mean to them.”
The Government has been recruiting children’s social workers as part of the Let’s Be Honest campaign, which won a recruitment award in October.
Natalie Spooner, Children’s Services manager, said: “Social work is the best job in the world. You can make a real and significant difference to children and families. I’ve been in the job now for 17 years. You learn so much about yourself, you learn so many new skills and you meet some fantastic people on the way. Being involved in a child and family’s life is such a privileged position – you’re able to be part of that change and part of a team of other professionals in order to support a family.”
A new social work degree has been running at Highlands College since September 2018, in partnership with the University of Sussex. Rose Parkes, Head of Social Work at Highlands College, said: “Students on this course are gaining valuable knowledge, skills and experience of social work in Jersey, where they intend to work upon graduation.
“Social work relies on effective human relationships and, regardless of whether we work in the statutory, voluntary or charitable sectors, it is important that we work together to achieve positive change for the benefit of our community.”
Founded in 1983 by the International Federation of Social Workers, World Social Work Day celebrates the ways in which social work – and social workers – contribute to individuals, families, communities, and wider society.
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