UNISON is by far the largest union representing most social work and social care staff in Scotland. We represent social work and social care staff in all specialisms, social workers, residential workers, OTs, and professional, admin and clerical support staff. We also represent home care and care home staff. During the COVID-19 pandemic we have been active in supporting our members, working to ensure their health and safety, and in promoting the key work that they do to support our most vulnerable citizens.
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UNISON Scotland Social Work Issues Group
UNISON Scotland has a Social Work Issues Group (SWIG) with reps from branches across Scotland, specifically addressing Social Work issues.
UNISON Scotland campaigns actively on a range of issues relevant to our social work and social care members. We have issued a Manifesto for Social Work in Scotland, which we produced jointly with the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and we have taken the lead on issues such as direct payments. We have also issued a Workload Management and Supervision Negotiating Resource and a Guide for Social Work Practitioners, Keeping Safe in the Workplace. SWIG recently updated our Guide to supporting asylum seekers, Refugee and Asylum in Scotland. At a UK level, UNISON has issued the Ethical Care Charter.
UNISON Scotland also promotes the important role of our members in social work and social care in the media and we challenge negative press and media reporting. We believe that we have had some success in improving the profile of social work in the media and in promoting a better understanding of the work done by social work members and the pressures faced.
For more information on UNISON Scotland’s work on social work issues, click here.