My time as a PSW Chair

In the first of our Voice of Social Work blog series, PSW Bev Latania shares her personal experience of leading the Adult PSW Network from 2018 to 2020, and invites you to consider taking up the reins and standing for election.

Being part of the PSW ‘family’ was such a lovely experience, and I really made good lifelong friends during my time. As a Chair, I experienced so many new things which I would never have had the opportunity to do without being in the role, such as taking part in videos, podcasts and workshops, and working in partnership with leading social care organisations to look at guidance, policies and more.  

Now I know this might sound scary and you may think this is not for you?  But that’s OK, as a PSW Chair, you make the decisions about your involvement and you can take part in what interests you, and at a level that you feel comfortable with.  

I would really encourage you to step forward; you never know where this role might lead you!   

And finally, as an illustration of how welcome your own personal approach can be, here’s a little bit of a different way to conclude – an acronym on my time as PSW Chair:  

P is for… Partnership working to deliver shared goals and values  

R is for… Raising the profile of social work  

I is for… Innovative, and looking for ways the PSW Network members can get involved 

N is for… New connections and exploring new ways of working  

C is for… Challenging views and ideas of others as well as your own   

I is for… Inspire, and share knowledge and expertise as a Network, and with others 

P is for… Practice development and guidance, with residents at its heart 

A is for… Authority and leadership of a national Network – be visible, be listened too   

L is for… Laugh, have fun, make friends and enjoy the experience  

Good luck! 

Bev Latania is Principal Social Worker in Mental Health at the London Borough of Newham.