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The Principal Child and Family Social Worker: A Munro

Review Recommendation in Practice

Tony Stanley & Marion Russell   London Borough of Tower Hamlets

& Cornwall Council

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Cornwall

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Tower Hamlets

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Practice leadership

The PSW role has 5 core areas of focus1. Voice for the front-line and the profession2. Practice — authentic and unfiltered experience3. Raise practice standards, as a senior manager4. Provide reflection and challenge throughout the

organisation5. Link to the national practice agenda

Two main PSW modelsStandalone (27%) or an add-on role (73%); 16 PSW cross childrens and adults

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Jack Cordery, Head of Service, Children's Early Help, Psychology & Social Care Services, Cornwall

I support the Principal Social Worker being distinct, dedicated, in practice. Doing direct work with children and families, not overseeing or quality assuring. I mean knocking on doors, crossing the threshold and meeting face to face with service users. I am aware that some colleagues see the power invested in a distinct and dedicated PSW as something of a threat or a potential point of resistance to bringing about change.  

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The voice of one struggling PSW

• Lack of understanding about the role (core elements of the role)

• Being "all things to all people" • A lack of focus• Being used as a miscellaneous senior manager • Tensions with other senior managers • Lack of interest in hearing the "true" voice of SWs

by some senior managers – what is this about?• Resistance to changing the culture - crux of the

matter?

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How successful have we been?

PSW – very limited gravitas nationally, some very locally, some gains regionallyThree years on - little uniformity in the role across England (TCSW, 2013)Decline in PSW being in practice (TCSW, 2014)• What are people scared of? • What stops an embracing of change? • If things were so good before, why have a PSW?• Is this window dressing Munro Review for Ofsted?• The role is now seriously at risk

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The opportunities need realising• PSW offer ‘ethnography’s of local practice’ and

this can contribute to change locally and to a national perspective

• Local intelligence via the frontline to seniors/ LSCB/ lead members

• We represent a practice-informed voice to tackle the arguments of bureaucratic-rationalism

• The challenge coming from within should be welcomed?

• But, work places fixated with the next Ofsted visit

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• PSW gravitas potentially silenced by cut backs and cost savings

• Nationally – a clear lack of role clarity• And by some who don't want the critical voice• there is a risk that the PCFSW role has been

captured (anxious organisations/weak leaders)Practice Leadership is key to success

• Excellent social work can transform people’s lives. • Poor practice can harm vulnerable children and their

families – the PSW is an important safeguard

Stanley, T., Russell. M., (2014) The Principal child and family social worker: A Munro recommendation in action Practice 26 (2): 81-96