Social Work Anti-Racist Steering Group (ARSG)

We know from our own student experiences, particularly on placement that they experience both direct and indirect racism. We also acknowledge that there is relatively little diversity within the teaching team and students have commented on the lack of diversity in the reading lists and curriculum. We also acknowledge that a higher percentage of students from minority ethnic backgrounds withdraw from programmes or struggle academically. As an organisation, Bournemouth University has clear policies which give statements about Equality and Diversity. However, without an action plan in place this can only be words.

The plan of this group is:

• To move from a position of non-racist awareness, acknowledging that racism exists from a benign and passive perspective, to one of active anti-racism.
• To have a clear action plan and to implement this at team and departmental level.
• To be comfortable with having uncomfortable conversations about race rather thanremaining complicitly silent.
• To feed into the wider faculty and university, forming alliances with other groups.

Background

This work is set within the contemporary context of the growing global discourse around the Black Lives Matter Movement which gained momentum following the death of George Floyd, the disproportionate impact of Covid 19 on people from minority ethnic backgrounds in the UK and an emerging awareness of white privilege and allyship.

The catalyst for setting up our steering group was a shared learning experience arranged by the social work team, facilitated by the British Association of Social Workers for both students and academics. This was an online event in which our students from minority ethnic backgrounds, shared their powerful and often distressing personal narratives and experiences of racism. The conversation that followed reflected an array of emotions including shock, shame and discomfort and highlighted an appetite for action and allyship amongst all who attended. This was the start of our journey to move from a position of non-racist awareness, acknowledging that racism exists, from a benign and passive perspective, to one of active anti-racism. This includes a commitment to challenging and changing the status quo and starting an active movement for change in both our social work team, our department, faculty, practice partners and across the university.

JSWEC 2022

In June 2022, Jenny Bigmore (Lecturer at BU) and Alice Jones (Student at BU) presented ‘Being comfortable with uncomfortable conversations’ at the Joint Social Work Education and Research Annual Conference (JSWEC) in Leeds. The presentation discussed the work of the ARSG and our journey to move from a position of acknowledging that racism exists, to one of active anti-racism which will be embedded within our social work programmes, policies and procedures. The presentation was very well received, with lots of positive feedback. For this presentation, the following film was developed, in which members of the group share why they feel it is of such importance.

Impact of the group so far

As a result of the conversions and work carried out by the ARSG, there have been significant impact:

• We have developed both our qualifying and CPD curriculums to be more inclusive of diversity. This has meant starting to decolonise our reading lists to reflect the diversity within our student cohorts and wider society. This is an ongoing task and is also reflected in the diversification of the curriculum.
• There is an increasing body of research which focuses on the impact of racial trauma, particularly in relation to mental health which is shaping our courses with a recognition of the importance of understanding issues of intersectionality.
• We have reviewed our student placement processes to explicitly include opportunities to discuss issues of discrimination at key points.
• We have clearly identified safe spaces to disclose the experience of or, the witnessing of racism on placement.
• Our courses are now embedded from the point of induction within an active anti-racist stance and skills days are delivered to develop student skills in cultural competence.
• The ARSG has taken on a consulting role across the social work department and wider faculty and university. We participate in regional and national networks, with the goal of challenging racism and dismantling racism in social work education and practice.

Current Projects

There is currently a staffing crisis in social work in the UK and increasingly, employers are looking to recruit social workers from overseas. Often the experience is not positive, and the newly recruited social workers feel unprepared for the transition to practice within a new culture. This leads to a high percentage moving home to their country of origin. We have developed a CPD unit which aims to prepare social workers for this transition.

Long Term Goal

• To ensure that the work of the group is sustainable moving forward. That this is not seen as tokenistic or a tick box exercise and that the principle of an active anti-racist stance is firmly embedded within the ethos of departments, faculties and across the university.
• To undertake research into ways to recognise and value different types of knowledge to extend and complement existing professional knowledge bases.
• To continue to develop networks across the professions with similar goals.