Respecting diversity through joint social action

Published: 21/03/2023

Author: Research in Practice

Social justice, human rights and equality are at the heart of effective social care.

Protecting these rights ensures that all people, with their diverse characteristics, have equal opportunities. For World Social Work Day and Social Work Week, Research in Practice resources aim to support diversity through joint social action.

A new podcast explores discriminatory abuse which is the unequal treatment of people based on age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion. The podcast looks at discrimination and how to develop effective practice responses.  

In a new blog, Alison Domakin highlights resources on effective anti-racist practice. In addition, Wayne Reid and Shabnam Ahmed introduce a new template that aims to ‘integrate anti-racism into the supervisory space’ for social workers. The resources consider how practice and service development can be delivered more equitably.

It is important that we work together to remove barriers to progression and provide fairer support for those who need it. The following resources aim to support diversity through joint social action.

Discriminatory abuse and intersectionality

Discriminatory abuse is the unequal treatment of an individual based on age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race and religion. A new podcast discusses how we can recognise potential discriminatory abuse and how we can develop practice responses.

Intersectionality is a tool for analysing how different forms of oppression interact and intersect to influence lived experiences. These approaches aim to use these experiences to build an understanding and improve practice. Research in Practice has developed video resources on intersectionality and older people which will be open access until 27 March.

This podcast explores what discriminatory abuse is and considers official statistics and wider research findings. It discusses how we can recognise potential discriminatory abuse, how discriminatory abuse features in Safeguarding Adult Reviews and what this means for developing our practice.

Listen to the podcast.

Video resources that highlight and share tasks and strategies to enable practitioners to apply intersectional approaches.

View the video resources. Open access until 27 March.

Promoting anti-racism in social work

The murder of George Floyd, in 2020, ignited global discussion about the impact of racism and the need take action to address this. Within services there have been calls for action.

Two new blogs highlight the impact of racism on colleagues from black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups working in social work and social care, introducing a template that can be used to embed anti-racist supervision. Research in Practice has developed video learning resources that promote anti-racism in social care which will be open access until 27 March.

This year, the theme of World Social Work Day is ‘Respecting diversity through joint social action’. This blog higlights the impact of racism on colleagues from black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups working in social work and social care.

View the blog.

Anecdotally, we know that supervision itself is inconsistent and irregular for many social workers and students. A new template aims to ‘integrate anti-racism into the supervisory space’ and puts a strong emphasis on wellbeing.

View the blog.

This learning programme has been developed to promote anti-racism in children’s social care and includes a briefing which explains why taking action to address the impact of racism is important and timely, together with a series of 14 short films exploring anti-racist work in children and family services.

View the video learning resources. Open access until 27 March.

These five films highlight tasks and strategies to enable practitioners to consider how both practice and service development can be designed and delivered more equitably.

View the videos.

This podcast discusses key issues on promoting anti-racism in social work with Dez Holmes and Wayne Reid.

Listen to the podcast.

Wayne Reid, BASW England’s Professional Officer, Social Worker and Anti-Racism Visionary shares his work on anti-racism in social work in 2021. This presentation examines key issues around racism and inequality, which invites us to reflect on our own thoughts, feelings and behaviours as practitioners, leaders and allies.

Watch the video.

Equality and diversity

Human rights ethics, law and practice underpin assessment for care and support.  Attending to the Articles of the European Convention on Human Rights within assessment can help to address inequality, promote strengths-based practice and empower people.

View the briefing.

This briefing aims to support senior managers in meeting the needs of Muslim-heritage children and young people in care. Although it is aimed at senior leaders and managers, the content is of relevance to anyone working with Muslim-heritage children and young people.

View the briefing.

This briefing aims to share messages from research, including what LGBTQ+ young people want from professionals and services, to promote a more inclusive support to all children and young people.

View the briefing.

As part of a series of events sharing learning from the Child Welfare Inequalities Project, Owen Thomas of Future Men shared their approach to working effectively with men, including boys, fathers and male carers.

Watch the video.

This practice guidance outlines key terms, relevant legislation and research regarding care and support for older trans adults. It contains reflective and practical tools to expand practitioners' confidence in this area.

View the briefing.