I recently spoke in a Westminster Hall Debate to mark ‘World Social Work Day 2021’. I thanked the 100,000 social workers in the UK, including the 320 in Leicester, for their hard work, passion and commitment to supporting people in our communities.
Social workers have faced huge additional pressures during the pandemic which have added to the challenges brought about by a decade of cuts to council budgets totalling £8 billion. The Government must better support social workers and the people they support. I talked about 3 important ways it can do this.
First, the Government must act to tackle the disgraceful rates of poverty in our country which mean a staggering 40% of children in parts of Leicester West are growing up poor. We know that most parents in poverty are doing their very best, but for those who are already struggling, poverty can make things so much harder.
Second, the Government must finally act on the unacceptable level of people with learning disabilities and autism living in hospital settings due to a lack of community care.
Finally, over 18 months since he promised he had a plan for fixing adult social care, the PM must now bring forward his proposals for social care reform.
Social workers will know all too well the impact of the Government’s failures in each of these areas. They deserve better.
