Social Workers in Disabilities – SWID

Caitriona Whitty

The National SWID committee meets once a month throughout the year. The meetings are presently held in KARE Services, Kitcullen, Co. Kildare.

The Eastern Regional Group of SWID currently meets on a 3 monthly basis in Cheerverstown. Unfortunately due to travel restrictions in the past year, other regional SWID groups have had difficulties convening such meetings.  

During the past year SWID mad submissions to such documents as the Mental Capacity Bill, The Disability Act, The Ryan Report, and to The Assessment of Need Consultation Process. One of our members has inputted to the IASW response to the Draft Early Intervention Standards. SWID is currently involved in providing a submission regarding H.I.Q.A’s ‘draft National Quality Standards for Registered and/or Inspected Services for Children and Young People’. 

SWID committee has representation on the IMPACT Social Work Vocational group, IASW as well as in Inclusion Ireland. 

On 6^th March 2009 SWID organized a One Day Seminar on Assessment of Need – 0 – 5 years. This highlighted Social Workers need for evidence based tools in the Assessment of Need process.  

The Annual Conference/AGM of SWID took place in October 2009 with a large attendance of approximately 80 persons involving existing and new members. The Conference was entitled ‘Evidence based Tools for Social Workers in Disability – A Practical Approach’.  

Discussions at Conference highlighted the need for more engagement and involvement by the Universities in the emerging issues and challenges facing social workers at the coalface. An example being the Assessment of Need process where social workers are being asked to account for their recommendations with evidence based tool.  

The feedback of participants at the Conference was that it was very timely and of great value to Social Workers working in this area.

Since our membership has expanded to include Physical and Sensory disabilities as well as Intellectual we are meeting new social workers which has increased numbers and provided a welcome pool of ideas and experience and a chance to increased networking in geographical areas.

We would hope to build on this and try and identify key areas where we might establish sub-groups to work together on issues/responses/submissions as they arise. Already a number of people have raised issues regarding the client population in the Mild level of functioning, who need Support around Independence Skills, Accommodation, Relationships and Finances.

A motion was put forward by SWID to the IASW AGM 2009. The motion requested the adoption of the recommended standards of good practice developed by SWID for social workers undertaking assessments of Need (Disability Act’ 05 for Children 0-5 years age range). This comprised the following – The Social Work Roles, The Framework for Assessment and the accompanying Guidance document. This motion was approved and the documents will be available on the website.

SWID is in the process of convening a one day Seminar in March 2010. This Seminar will centre on 2 areas of interests for Social Workers in Disability.

Christy Lynch CEO of KARE will deliver a presentation on a ‘Present and Future Residential Options for Persons with Disabilities’ and Phil Mortell Social Work Consultant will provide a presentation on ‘Data Collection and Protection in areas relating to Social Workers (casework recording, report writing etc)’ 

SWID are actively planning their Conference and AGM which will take place in October this year. SWID are open to any suggestions for topics/areas of interest for this.

The following is the membership of the SWID committee for 2010: