- England

On September 30th applications will open for Frontline, a new fast track training scheme which aims to make social work more attractive to top graduates. The programme is modeled on the successful 'TeachFirst' scheme, which has been successful in opening the profession of teaching to high achievers. However, concerns have been raised that the 5week initial training scheme is too short to prepare participants to work with children and families and also that the scheme may lead to the demise of the generic social work training model Furthermore, there are concerns that once trained, these highly qualified and academic individuals will be attracted to more highly paid jobs in the private sector. The BASW however, welcomed the positive, high profile that the scheme was giving to social work.

 

-China

New government report shows that the number of specialized social workers in China has reached 300,000. This is good news for the prospects of attaining the government's goal of 1.45 million social specialists by 2020. In China "Social Work" refers to; social welfare, social assistance, poverty elimination, marriage and family affairs, mental health, disabled persons assistance, employment assistance and the prevention of crimes.

 

-Greece

Our support goes out to Greek Social workers who are being harshly affected by European Austerity Policies. Member of the "Consejo General del Trabajo Social" continue to fight the devastating affects of austerity and we send our full backing to their movement.