WM-ADASS has a well-established Principal Social Worker Network that includes representatives from each of our 14 councils. It meets virtually bi-monthly to support the West Midlands Improvement Programme providing information, improvement and best practice sharing for activists across the region.
We have built a strong, supportive and influential PSW network:
- Our history of Practice Reviews is unique for the region, Through this we know each other well as individuals as well as the other LAs within the region
- Members of the Network sit on other network groups (such as EDI, Workforce, Co-production etc) and we have regular guest speakers at our own meetings
- We focus on practice: how do we create the conditions for excellent practice to thrive and how do we evidence good practice
- We are: leading in anti-oppressive practice; mentoring and coaching new PSWs; are key players in CQC assurance; are working to embed research across the region; share practice wisdom and insights
Publication: Reflections on a Decade of Practice Reviews
This 28-page paper contains the personal reflections of WM ADASS Associate Mark Godfrey who, as well as supporting thie PSW Network, has led the West Midlands programme of practice reviews since they were initiated in 2015.
In its foreword, Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults (2013-2024) describes the paper as: "....a timely reflection and an important contribution to the continued development of adult social care practice. It captures not only the evolution of the Principal Social Worker role over the past decade, but also the power of collective, peer-led improvement to strengthen leadership and practice, influence policy, and deliver better outcomes for people across a whole region."
You can download Reflections on a Decade of Practice Reviews from this link.
Plans for 2026 and beyond
We will be mplementing our next stage in practice reviews, with a focus on supporting LAs who were rated by CQC as 'requires improvement' or scored a low good. We will do this through:
- In-person deeper dive reviews
- Stronger involvement from people with lived experience
- Auditing with the practitioner
We will be focusing on consistent practice across the region in anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice, equality, equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.
We will help prepare for and leading on the next stage of CQC assurance
We will lead the discussion, adoption and integration of artificial intelligence within social care practice.
We will continue to develop strong links with Children's PSWs
Featured project: I got on the bus in one life and woke up in another
This exciting project, led by Grace Currie, a brain injury survivor and developing artist, was funded by Arts Council England and WMADASS during 2024.
Together we looked at whether art could teach social workers more about brain injury and whether using creative methods was something social workers could use in assessment and care planning. Key things we learned were:
1. Visual art has the power to communicate emotions, desires, intentions when there is an attentive listener who is open to understanding the meaning behind the image.
2. Methods of communication are diverse. Non-verbal methods are valuable when words are not available or not enough.
3. Social work students would benefit from learning about diverse methods/non-verbal forms of communication during their training.
4. Social workers are open to embracing new approaches to communication in conducting assessments and in interaction with clients.
Watch the video and access the project report.
Movement in Practice event recording
View the video recording from this event
Access the slides from this event
More about the PSW network
The Network aims to:
- ensure an engaged and committed regional PSW to identify and respond to the challenges and changing social work landscape
- strengthen the profile of social work, facilitate consistent approaches and address common challenges
- better engage with front line practice and people with lived experience to grow and develop social work practice in the region
The Network is sponsored by Pete Fahy, Director of Adult Services, Coventry City Council, co-chaired by Abbii Henry, Principal Social Worker at Solihull Council and Tamsin Waterhouse, principal Social Worker at Shropshire Council, and supported by Mark Godfrey, WM ADASS Associate.