Learning from Research: Uncovering the legacy of Black British social workers

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Historically, social work practice has not always met Black children’s identity needs. In the 70s, it was standard practice to place Black children in white homes. In 2002, legal policy was amended to emphasise children's religion, race, and culture in finding permanent homes. However, in 2014 the legal requirement to consider ethnicity was removed, allowing transracial placements.

In this session, we will be hearing the oral history of Black social workers in Britain. We will listen to how Black social workers navigated policy U-turns on ethnicity and identity in the UK - what was their perception of these changes, and how did they experience them in practice?

This project was funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund and conducted by the University of Coventry.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

• Hear their voices: Listen to the oral history of 18 Black social workers and their experience navigating a changing policy landscape on identity and the consideration of ethnicity in children’s social care.
• Meeting identity needs: Uncover the professional and personal commitment of Black social workers, who went above and beyond to care for vulnerable children and meet their identity-needs.
• Contribution to social work: Learn about the historic, significant, and often under-recognised contribution of Black, South Asian and other minoritised communities to social work and civil society more widely.

PRESENTERS

Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor (PhD) is Professor in the Sociology of Islam at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Coventry University, UK. She is Chair (2020-2023) of the Muslims in Britain Research Network (MBRN). As a feminist sociologist of religion, she interrogates the power dynamics within knowledge production and the implications of the processes and systems of knowledge on society as a whole. She started undertaking research with and for children in care after starting the process to become an adopter, just under a decade ago.

WHO’S IT FOR?

The session for foster carers, adopters, children’s services, social workers, supervising social workers, managers and anyone interested in learning about the experiences and perspective of Black social workers on the subject of identity and the children they work with.

FEES

Members: FREE (don't forget to log in to your account to receive your discount)
Non-members: £20+VAT.

Places on this event are limited, so early booking is recommended.

CONTACT

Telephone 020 7520 7520/0310

Email events@corambaaf.org.uk

MEMBERS BOOK HERE