Update 01.06.20:
Please see below link to access resources created by What Works for Children’s Social Care and other organisations to provide guidance, support and inspiration for those working in children’s social care.
https://whatworks-csc.org.uk/covid-19-resources
Update 14.05.20:
Skills for Care and BASW have produced an Information and Resources document to support Social Workers in practice in Adult and Children’s Services alike. With the situation around COVID-19 being ever-changing and professionals having to adapt practice, sometimes on a daily basis, we hope that this summary of information is helpful to find your way through these uncertain times. Please click below to access the document.
Update 13.05.20:
Please click here to access the latest COVID-19 update from the Government.
Please click here to access the latest guidance for Children’s Social Care services from the Government.
Update 02.04.20:
Dear colleagues,
Thank you so much for supporting our BA students who have been, or still are on their final substantive placement. As of today around two thirds of our BA students are still on final placement with adaptations for safe working in place. Some have had to, or chosen to suspend their placement due to the current circumstances.
We were due to host a link day for all Practice Educators and Placement Supervisors supporting final placements on Wednesday 8th April. Whilst this can’t go ahead as usual, we are keen to still have a forum available to you to ask questions and discuss and share information and ideas.
In lieu of the link day we have developed the following:
1) Opportunity to discuss the guidance for Practice Educators and Placement Supervisors on the revised assessment requirements (issued on Friday 27th March and downloadable below).
2) Offer an open invitation for you to email or Skype me rosdray@bournemouth.ac.uk to discuss any particular issues, queries or concerns
3) Host an online discussion forum using Zoom on Wednesday 8th April so you can hear from and speak with other placement supervisors and practice educators.
For the online forum we have set up two sessions. Whilst you are welcome to click on the link and join either session,
Session 1: 13.00 will focus on placements which are continuing.
Session 2: 14.30 will focus on placements which have been put on hold.
So I can manage numbers, please drop me an email if you plan to join us for either session.
If you have yet to use Zoom, you will need a laptop, tablet or phone with a camera. Cut and paste the relevant link below into your browser and type in the password when prompted.
Session 1 (1300hrs): Link Meeting for Practice Educators and Placement Supervisors who still have students in placement
- Date/Time: Apr 8, 2020 13:00hrs
- Join Zoom Meeting
- https://zoom.us/j/108268201?pwd=ZHVzK0pQTGVTTXkzMjB1enZaQ0piQT09
- Meeting ID: 108 268 201
- Password: 325206
Session 2 (14.30hrs): Link meeting for Practice Educators and Placement Supervisors – for students where placement is suspended.
- Date/Time: Apr 8, 2020 14:30
- Join Zoom Meeting
- https://zoom.us/j/155625264?pwd=Z0FxQk0zSjRqME15NmF4TTFoYU1GQT09
- Meeting ID: 155 625 264
- Password: 960025
I hope to hear from you and thank you for your continued support of our students in these challenging times.
Kind regards
Ros
Rosslyn Dray
Lecturer in Social Work
Registered Social Worker
Message from Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary
Matt Hancock issued the following message to all working in social care. It includes messages regarding how to access Coronavirus updates, childcare for key workers and free parking for those working in social care. For those of you still on placement, you have key worker status.
“To my brilliant colleagues in social care
The last few weeks have been difficult for all of us. I am acutely conscious that you, along with colleagues across the health and social care system, are on the front line caring for and supporting people in incredibly challenging circumstances.
Many of the people you care for will be in groups that are at higher risk from Covid-19 and I know that you will have naturally felt concerned for them. At the same time, you will have been grappling with the same issues we all face: how we can best keep ourselves and our loved ones healthy, juggling our own personal caring responsibilities, and looking out for our friends, our neighbours and communities.
My main message to you is simple: thank you.
Thank you for going the extra mile to make sure the people who rely on you are supported. Thank you in advance for the difficult decisions you will have to make that will keep as many people as possible safe. Thank you for taking on extra shifts to cover for those who need to isolate or have their own caring responsibilities. Thank you for doing the right thing by isolating if you or somebody you live with has symptoms. Thank you for everything you are doing this week, next week and in the months to come.
We face more difficult times ahead and I know you will have been personally impacted by the measures we have had to take to reduce the spread of Covid-19. Whilst many people are now staying at home, I know that is not an option for most of you as your work, caring for others, cannot be done from home. We will do all we can to make your lives easier during this period, including, for example, making parking on council owned on-street spaces and car parks free for those who work in social care.
The Government is releasing advice and information updates daily and we are working round the clock to make sure you and your employer have the information, equipment and resources you need. For those of you that use Twitter, please follow the Department for Health and Social Care (@DHSCgovuk) for the latest information. We will also make it available through other channels. I also want to reiterate what the Chancellor has said: we are committed to doing whatever is needed; that promise applies just as much to social care as it does for the NHS.
Thank you again for everything you do.”
– Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary
