PRICES SLASHED!

€30.00 IASW Members  NOW €15.00       

€60.00 Non Members    NOW €30.00          

€20.00 Non Working   NOW €10.00    

€15.00 Student NOW €5.00

Annual Conference & AGM

“Social Work & The Economic Crisis; Structural Solutions”

The aim of the conference is to provide members with an opportunity to have a broad overview of the background issues and up to date information on the proposed changes in service delivery.

Friday 18^th May, 2012

The Ashling Hotel, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8

The theme for this year's annual conference is informed by the proposed changes to health and social care service delivery within a period of cutbacks and will try to address a number of relevant issues that will effect the service provision for service users.:

1. The economic crisis, the implications for the Irish welfare state as well as the cut backs in funding for services.
2. The proposed changes to the structures of service delivery, i.e. the move from a geographic, integrated model managed by HSE to a care group model managed by 7 different directorates, each with the responsibility for a different health and social care specialism. The need for an update on this model and the possible implications of those changes for the effective delivery of services during this time of funding limitations.
3. The proposed introduction of universal health care within the existing model of the Irish Welfare State..

Speakers

“The Irish welfare state model and the economic crisis: alternative ideas and broadening the debate”

presented by

Fiona Dukelow, lecturer in social policy at the School of Applied Social Studies, University College Cork will address the economic crisis and the effect on the Irish Welfare State. Fiona's talk will provide a background to the proposed change from the existing model of health and social service delivery to the proposed delivery of universal health care by outlining the present model of the Irish welfare state an look at the opportunities and constraints of these changes..

Content: Ireland’s economic crisis has seen also a fiscal crisis of the welfare state and a questioning of the Irish welfare state model. The debate has been dominated by interests and ideas that implicate the welfare state in the economic crisis, and by the question of how social policy can be reformed in order to more tightly align it to the needs of the Irish economy and its recovery.  Alternative proposals about the future of the Irish welfare state and Irish society that highlight concepts of equality, redistribution and overall quality of life, drawing broadly on social democratic ideas, are not lacking but remain relatively marginalised.  This talk aims to unpack some of the ideas and trajectory of this debate about Ireland’s welfare state future by locating some of the core issues within the context of welfare state models and principles.  Against this outline, salient points in the historical evolution of Ireland’s welfare model that help explain its particular traits are examined and set against the notion that the crisis presents a critical juncture for alternative ideas, actors and influences to take hold in shaping Irish social policy.

'The Challenges of Reform in a Time of Crisis'

presented by

Dr. Fergus O'Ferrall, Adelaide lecturer in Health Policy and Trinity College Dublin and member of the Government Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance Fergus will address the key challenges relating to health and personal social services, the current Government's policy approaches - universal health insurance, structural reforms and introduce a different paradigm based upon the human development and capability approach.

Published works on health policy include Citizenship and Public Service Voluntary and Statutory Relationships in Irish Healthcare and he co-edited   Medical Ethics and the Future of Healthcare. He initiated in 2006 the Adelaide Hospital Society series of research studies concerning the introduction of social health insurance in Ireland undertaken by colleagues in Trinity College completed in 2010. These studies are available on www.adelaide.ie. These were seminal studies laying the basis for the current policy on universal health insurance.

He is also a historian and author of studies on the career of Daniel O’Connell including Catholic Emancipation Daniel O’Connell and the Birth of Irish Democracy 1820-1830.  He recently co-edited the atlas on Longford town for the Royal Irish Academy Irish Historic Towns Atlas series.

Workshops

1. “Economic and Equality Effects of Social Disinvestment” presented by Nat O’Connor, TASC . Cuts to services are not just a one-off cash saving to the State. The loss of a service can lead to a decline in someone’s skills or health, which can lead to further social problems or increased crime. Solving the problems later costs more than preventing them. Maintaining social investment can have a positive long-term effect on the economy, as people are more able to work and less reliant on welfare (which decreases the State’s costs and increased tax revenue). This workshop will give a clear understanding of the economic arguments for social investment and against social disinvestment.

1.  “Integrated working – a burden or a benefit?” presented by Anna Lee, Tallaght Partnership. The workshop will have a brief input in relation to the pros and cons of integrated working;  explore participants’ experience of integrated working; identify what is required to enable  integrated working.

1. ‘Health Factory – compassion on the assembly line’  - short film presentation. Health care institutions mimic industry production to become more efficient. The goal is to get more health for the money spent, based on the presumption that private corporations are more efficient and less wasteful than public institutions. "Health Factory" is a film about the history and confidential methods of the health care system in the western world, and the future challenges facing it. Increased spending on health services is the norm. The costs are spiralling out of control.
3. THIS CONFERENCE HAS BEEN AWARDED FOUR CPD POINTS

    

   Applying; To book a place on our conference please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Bookings can only be secured with payment. Payment can be made using credit/debit card over the phone or by cheque/cash in the post. Bookings will not be accepted without payment.

    

   Cancellations; Cancellations made before May 11^th are refundable and cancellations made after May 11^th are non-refundable.  Substitutions may be made without charge, please contact the office to arrange the substitution. 

    

   Specific requirements; Please indicate on the booking form if you have any specific requirements for which we need to cater e.g. wheelchair access, large type print hand-outs, and dietary requirements.

    

   Hotel Information; The Best Western Ashling Hotel (Car-park @ €2.00 p/hr) is located on the River Liffey across from Heuston Rail Station (Car-park Day Rate @ €8.00). It’s just a 20 minute walk from the city centre and Temple Bar area. Alternatively, the hotel is just 5 minutes from the city centre by tram (Luas red line). www.ashlinghotel.ie

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BOOKING FORM

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE CONFERENCE ITINERARY

Keith O’Reilly, Social Worker Children’s University Hospital Temple Street

presents

“‘Inter agency working and Child Sexual Abuse: System anxiety or needs of the Child?”

The seminar will incorporate;

• Components of sexual abuse assessment.
• What constitutes a grounded concern for assessment? What information is needed to inform the assessment?
• Inter-agency working. How child protection/criminal investigation and therapeutic services can work together. What are the challenges with this?
• How can we avoid child engaging in multiple interviews, and offer a more child centered approach.

NB – It is important for participants to bring questions/dilemmas to the day for some group discussion.

Venue:                 St. Andrews Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

Date:                    Friday 11^th May, 2012

Time:                   10.00am – 1.00pm (registration starts at 9.30am)

Fees:                     €5.00 IASW Members        €10.00 Non-Members

This course has been awarded three CPD points

Marie Keenan, College Lecturer UCD School of Applied Social Science

presents

“Sexual Trauma and Abuse - Transformative Possibilities?”

This workshop focuses on therapeutic principles involved in working with adults who have experienced sexual trauma and abuse and with different approaches to undertaking that work, drawing on the empirical literature, the narrative work of Michael White and the Resistance ideas of French Philosopher, Michel Foucault. The workshop will draw on material from clinical work.

Speaker: Dr. Marie Keenan is a Social Worker, Systemic Psychotherapist and Researcher who is a College Lecture in the School of Applied Social Science, UCD, and is the current Chairperson of the Family Therapy Association of Ireland. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Criminology Institute, UCD.  

Venue:         St. Andrews Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

Date:           Friday 25^th May, 2012

Time:           10.00am – 1.00pm (registration starts at 9.30am)

Fees:            €5.00 Members                                €10.00 Non Members

Venue:         St. Andrews Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

This course has been awarded three CPD points

To book a place on any of our events, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Bookings can only be secured with payment. Payment can be made using credit/debit card over the phone or by cheque/cash in the post. Bookings will not be accepted without payment.

IASW CELEBRATES WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY

on

Thursday 22^nd March, 2012

in

St. Andrews Resource Centre, 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2

Theme; ‘Social Work & Human Rights’  

10.00 – Welcome & Introduction by John Brennan , Chairperson of the IASW International Committee and Social Workers

10.05 – ‘Community Work & Human Rights’ presented by Fidelma Bonass. Fidelma has been a social worker in the Dublin 7 area for over 20 years, working in the area of Community Development. 

10.30 – ‘A personal perspective on Human Rights & Disability’ presented by Frida Lowry. Frida is a Senior Social Worker with Enable Ireland, and has worked for many years in the area of disability, both at a professional & voluntary level. She is presently the vice chairperson of KARE. 

11.00 – Tea & Coffee Break 

11.30 – ‘Social work and older people: integrating a right-based approach to bring about change’ presented by Bernadette Casey.

This short presentation explores some challenges faced by older people and how social workers can integrate professional ethics and a rights-based approach to promote change at individual and group level. Bernadette Casey, BSSc MSc M.MII, is a Senior Case Worker for the Service for the Protection of Older People. She has a MSc in Equality Studies, UCD, and provides various training courses on the social justice, rights and responsibilities for older peoples.

12.00 – ‘It takes a village to protect a child" - Collective responsibility and child protection’ presented by Bart Storan, Executive Director, Campaign for children - http://www.campaignforchildren.ie/ Bart graduated from the London School of Economics with a Masters in Human Rights before moving to Liberia to work on a child soldier re-integration programme. He spent two years working with Amnesty International Ireland before joining the Campaign for Children team in 2011.

12.30 – Q&A and Close 

BOOKING; please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm your booking. This is a FREE EVENT!!!!

Social Workers in Adult Mental Health (SWAMH) AGM

Friday 20th of April 2012 at St Patrick’s Hospital, Dublin 8

Theme: ‘Quality and Patient Safety’

Cost: €8 Euros IASW Members - €10 Euros Non-IASW Members - € 2 Euros Students.

Venue: Lecture Theatre, St Patrick’s Hospital, Dublin 8 (Short walk from Heuston Station behind Dr Steevens Hospital)

By email only to Claire O’Regan: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Hon. Secretary SWAMH)

This course has been awarded THREE CPD Points. Certificates will be provided on the day.