Social Workers in Primary Care

2009 / 10 Committee Members

Chairperson:              Mary Mc Nutt

Vice Chairperson:     Deirdre Jacob

Secretary:                  Aisling Coffey

Training Officer:        Conor Fitzpatrick

Introduction:

The Primary Care Social Work Special Interest Group (PCSW SIG) provides a forum and leadership in the promotion of Social Work within Primary Care, acknowledging that Primary Care is the appropriate setting for 90-95% of the population’s health and social services needs. Social Workers have a pivotal role in the development of Primary Care Teams (PCTs) and as core team members.

Objectives of the PCSW SIG:

• To provide members with a network to discuss, explore and exchange ideas on matters affecting their practice as well as providing peer support.
• To advocate for structures that support professional standards and objectives in the development of the Social Work profession within Primary Care.
• To identify and organize Continuing Professional Development training and education appropriate to Primary Care.
• To produce position papers, submissions and responses to issues affecting marginalized communities, as identified, both by those communities and by members of the SIG. 

Origins of the PCSW SIG:

Commencing in August 2008, a number of Social Workers working in Primary Care in Dublin and Wicklow began meeting to discuss practice issues and to avail of peer support. In September 2009, thus group was recognized 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 was to make links with as many Social Workers working in the area of Primary Care as possible and to raise awareness of the SIG. Currently the SIG is in contact with 62 Social Workers working in Primary Care settings through its email database. 

Current situation:

At the end of 2009 there were 222 Primary Care Teams (PCTs) and 69 Social Workers (including Team Leaders) in posts allocated to primary Care in the Republic of Ireland. The SIG is aware of PCTs without Social Work input as well as colleagues who are covering a number of PCTs. 

Anecdotal information would indicate that there is a lack of uniformity across the Local Health Offices in the provision of coherent structures for the supervision and management of Social Workers within Primary Care. This is a major concern for the SIG, as the lack of structure may result in some Social Workers not having access to adequate professional supervision and management, resulting in high levels of occupational stress and professional isolation. 

A further concern of the PCSW SIG is the assignment of Primary Care Social Workers to non Primary Care roles, including:

• Elder abuse Casework, due to the non filling of posts
• Adult Care facilities
• Children & Families Social Work Services: to fostering assessments on a temporary basis as a result of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Reports (2009) and to the Duty Social Work Service. 

As a result, Social Work services within the Primary Care setting are being depleted before they can be established. 

Furthermore, the HSE Service Plan (2010) states “the assignment of social workers to PTCs and HSCNs provides additional resources in relation to meeting the HSE’s statutory obligations on child protection matters; the primary role of these social workers is to ensure that these critical organizational priorities are met” (page 19), undermining the role of Primary Care Social Workers within communities and as core PCT members. 

Working Groups:

PCSW SIG has recently established two sub-groups:

1. Assessment Tools PCSW.
2. Role of the Primary Care Social Worker.

Plans for 2010:

1. Continue to meet on a monthly basis in a rotating venue.
2. Develop the PCSW SIG protocol.
3. Establish a Working Group of PCSW Team Leaders.
4. Survey the SIG members in relation to identifying areas for education and training.
5. Hold our first AGM in October 2010.