Upholding rights, ethics and social justice - post local election leadership changes

Impact of political leadership changes at local level

Following May's local elections in England, there has been a considerable change in the political leadership of some English local councils. The transfer of political regimes from one party to another usually runs smoothly as there are rarely significant differences in approach to either children's or adult social care between the political parties. However, that is not the experience of all system leaders, social workers and practitioners at a local place level.  A strong message from the BASW UK Annual conference was the importance of creating safe spaces and support to social workers and leaders. 

Promoting human rights and social justice – BASW Code of Ethics 

Now more than ever, it is crucial to uphold the core ethics of social work which are rooted in an unwavering commitment to human rights, equality, and resisting oppression. The BASW Code of Ethics sets out key principles including respect for human rights and diversity, promotion of social justice, professional integrity, and an unwavering commitment to equality and anti-oppressive practice. These values guide social workers to challenge racism,  discrimination, empower marginalised people, and advocate for fairness, dignity and respect for diversity in all aspects of practice. While the profession maintains party political impartiality, the ethical foundations of social work remain as vital and unshakeable as ever. In a rapidly changing world, holding firm to these principles ensures that social workers continue to defend the rights of those they serve, promoting justice, respect for diversity and inclusion.

You can access the BASW code of ethics here: https://basw.co.uk/policy-practice/standards/code-ethics

If you are directly impacted or concerned about the possible consequences of the change in leadership in your council, there are several ways in which BASW England can help: