The Social Workers Union and British Association of Social Workers have hit out at politicians who they claim have helped to create an “unwelcome” environment for overseas social workers.
The news comes as social work professionals from across the sector gather for the first ever Diaspora Dialogues Conference at Brunel University on Monday 18th March 2024.
The conference will celebrate the contribution of overseas workers to the profession, and also raise awareness of the challenges faced by social workers who have migrated to the UK to practise here. Organisers hope that the conference will help to create a “safe haven” for diaspora social workers.
Despite the importance of overseas workers, recent government policy has focused on making it harder for diaspora social workers to come to the UK. Only last month the Home Secretary James Cleverly laid out plans to ban overseas care workers from bringing dependents with them. This follows an earlier announcement in December last year to restrict the number of health and care workers visas.
Reports of modern slavery have also soared in recent years due to visa rules and practices by certain care firms, which may affect social workers working as senior carers while they await their social work registration approval.
Recent analysis by The Kings Fund points to the huge importance of international recruitment to addressing the NHS workforce crisis, with 1 in every 5 people working in the health service coming from overseas. This is testament to the vital role diaspora social workers play in the sector.
Duc Tran, Co-Chair, Diaspora Special Interest Group at the British Association of Social Workers, said:
“All the diaspora social workers I know are committed and hardworking people who just want to make a positive contribution to the lives and communities which they serve. Their presence adds richness and resilience to the country’s social care sector.
“We must do more to celebrate the contribution of diaspora social workers and stop making them scapegoats for the failings of government policy.”
Priya David, Co-Chair, Diaspora Special Interest Group at the British Association of Social Workers, said:
“We are really excited to be part of the first ever diaspora social workers conference, and we hope it is the first of many. We want to ensure that colleagues can access a supportive peer network and that we can provide a safe haven to voice their concerns about the issues they face.”
Calum Gallacher, Assistant General Secretary, Social Workers Union, said:
“Overseas social workers make an enormous contribution to the health service here in the UK. Despite this, they face a number of barriers along the way, including practices that are tantamount to modern slavery and an unwelcome working environment fuelled by anti-immigration rhetoric.
“We want to ensure that diaspora social workers are aware of their rights while in the UK and can access a community of peers that is here to support one another.”
The hybrid conference is taking place online and in London on March 18th, during World Social Work Month and the day before World Social Work Day. For more information visit: https://www.basw.co.uk/events/diaspora-dialogues-celebrating-social-workers-move