Special Interest Groups (SIGS) offer members with specific interests or needs a network to discuss, explore, and exchange ideas on matters affecting their practice as well as providing a peer support. 

SIG's use the resources of the Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) to address the issues raised by its members. Some examples of this are:

1) Producing Position Papers or Media Responses to highlight a pressing issue;

2) Producing Assessment Tools, Leaflets or Articles;

3) Organising Training, Seminars or Conferences/CPD;

4) Responding to Requests for Policy Submissions/Meetings with Policy Makers.

Commencing in August 2008 a number of social workers working in Primary Care in Dublin and Wicklow formally met as a group to discuss practice issues and avail of peer support.  In September 2009 this group was recognised as a SIG by the IASW. 

The PCSW SIG held its inaugural meeting on 1^st October 2009 and one of the group’s key goals is to make links with as many social workers working in the area of Primary Care as possible and to raise awareness of the SIG. 

If you are a social worker working in the area of Primary Care and you would like to be part of the SIG, or to simply be kept informed of the group’s activities please email me with your details and I will include you in our database. 

If you are aware of a social work colleague working in the area of primary care who does not have access to email, I would be grateful if you could inform them of this bulletin. 

Many thanks,

Aisling Coffey,

Social Work Team Leader,

Clondalkin Primary Care Network

Secretary of PCSW SIG

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CLICK HERE to download the Submission prepared by the Irish Association of Social Workers to the Primary Medical Care subcommittee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children.