The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) has slimmed down its top team in the face of financial pressures.
The professional body said the changes, which involve the departure of three long-serving directors, would focus resources on the delivery of benefits and services to members.
They come ahead of a national consultation, dubbed the Big Conversation", on BASW's future direction, which will involve both members and non-members.
Slimmed-down management team
It has merged the previous four national director roles into two - covering England and Wales, and Scotland and Northern Ireland, respectively - and consolidated its professional learning and policy functions, which previously had separate leads.At the same time, it is adding to its top team by recruiting a director of finance and operations, while it is also due to hire a new chief executive to replace Ruth Allen, who stepped down last month after over nine years in the role. Once these appointments have been made, the leadership team will have been reduced by two posts.
In the meantime, the chief executive post is being filled on an interim basis by Sam Baron, who has been appointed on a permanent basis as director of Wales and England, having previously held the Wales job alone.
Jane Shears, previously head of professional development, has been appointed director of Northern Ireland and the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW), with Luke Geoghegan, formerly head of policy and research, made strategic lead, policy, research, public affairs and professional learning.
Amanda Govani and Kate O'Regan have retained their roles as directors of communications and external relations, and of professional services and organisational development, respectively.
Changes 'put BASW on strong financial footing'
BASW said that changes were designed to increase the efficiency of its operations in the face of financial pressures that had increased costs."The changes will ensure that BASW is on a strong financial footing for the future and follows a review of services, to strengthen and streamline our operations and focus on member services," it said.
As a result, a small number of staff are leaving the organisation, though several of them were on temporary or fixed-term contracts, the association added.
Departees include national directors Maris Stratulis (BASW England), Carolyn Ewart (Northern Ireland) and Alison Bavidge (SASW), who had been in their posts for 12, seven and five years, respectively.
The association paid tribute to the contributions each had made.
'Members are the backbone of BASW' - outgoing director
It highlighted Stratulis's work in promoting the role of social workers in disasters, for which she led the development of practice resources and training, and in leading campaigns to cut the administrative burdens on practitioners and reduce the use of hospitals for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.BASW also praised her championing of member-led branches and commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppressive practice, with chair Julia Ross saying she had "truly led the way in speaking out for all facets of the social work profession and those who use services".
Stratulis herself thanked BASW England's staff and members, adding: “Members are the backbone of BASW, it has been a privilege and honour to work with you all and I wish each one of you good health, happiness and peace in your lives.”
Profession 'being heard at the highest levels' in Scotland
BASW said Bavidge's successes for in Scotland included campaigning successfully to improve bursary funding for postgraduate students in Scotland, setting up the first cross-party group on social work in the Scottish Parliament and advocating for enhanced working conditions for practitioners.Bavidge herself pointed to the importance of legislation to create a National Social Work Agency to promote the profession in Scotland, saying this meant social work was "better positioned to influence government". She added that SASW's work in the Scottish Parliament, and with politicians, had meant members' voices were being "heard at the highest levels of decision-making".
In relation to Ewart, BASW said she had "shaped policy, advanced practice, and ensured that members have had a strong, credible advocate in the most challenging of times" in Northern Ireland.
BASW Northern Ireland chair Davy Hayes said Ewart had “worked tirelessly and demonstrated real devotion to promoting the interests of the social work profession and social workers in NI and beyond".
'Big Conversation' on BASW's future
BASW will launch its Big Conversation at the end of the year. This will include a survey of members and non-members about what they want from the association, while BASW will also be consulting staff on its future direction.Baron said that the association's aim was to "take BASW forwards as a modern professional association for ALL social workers".
