Anastasia Koutsounia

Posts by Anastasia Koutsounia

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‘They shut down the conversation’: frontline practitioners discuss their experiences with management

Three social work practitioners share their experience of team managers and senior leaders and the impact its had on them professionally, for our new From the Front Line series

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What do social workers think of unions’ 2025-26 pay claim?

Most social workers believe the £3,000 rise claimed by unions for council staff is the least they deserve, to make up for 'years of pay cuts'

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Where does the stigma around care-experienced people originate from?

Most social workers believe that the care system itself is a substantial contributor to the stigma young people in care and care leavers experience

Photo by Sutthiphong/AdobeStock||Keir Starmer meets Ealing council staff and Beam chief executive Alex Stephany at Downing Street (photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street)

AI tool improves direct work in adult social care despite accuracy concerns, practitioners report

Adult social care professionals said Magic Notes cut admin time, enhanced engagement with people who use services and improved the quality of supervision meetings.

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Poverty often overlooked in social work assessments, say practitioners

Despite poverty being linked to increased demand for children's social care, most practitioners say it's not being much considered during assessments

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Should the government use AI to reform public services?

With the government set to integrate AI into its public service reform plans - including on the grounds that it saves social workers time - we asked practitioners whether they believed this was the...

Lemn Sissay (credit: Slater King)|Photo by WikiCommons

Lemn Sissay: 'All care stories should be successful ones'

The renowned care experienced poet discusses the consequences of an adolescence devoid of care and his search for accountability from those who failed him, and many others, through his work

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Should social workers feel unvalued by society?

A recent survey by Social Work England found that most social workers feel unvalued by society. But does that reflect the public's true opinion?

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Is there a disconnect between the front line and senior management?

Social workers believe a gulf of understanding exists between practitioners at the coalface and those who lead their organisations

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Farewell to my practice educator: ‘You set the foundation blocks of my career’

A social worker remembers the life of her late practice educator, whose wisdom became a guiding light throughout her career

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'To the social work manager who supported me through my ASYE'

A newly qualified social worker pays tribute to her team manager, whom she says places ownership and responsibility on practitioners while always being available to guide them

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Social work opinion split over police involvement in mental health incidents, poll finds

Following an evaluation of the right care, right person policy, we asked social workers their opinion on police withdrawing from mental health incidents