Social Work Scotland and Scottish Association of Social Work joint response to Scottish Parliament’s Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017: Post Legislative Scrutiny
September 2024
INTRODUCTION
The Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW) and Social Work Scotland (SWS) represent the voice of social work across Scotland at both practice and senior managerial level. Poverty affects a significant number of the people our members support across each of the main fields of justice, adults, and children and families. It is this all-pervasive influence sometimes called the wallpaper of social work which leads our organisations to respond jointly to this post legislative scrutiny consultation, taking the opportunity to comment on the specific questions but also contextualise child poverty in the wider societal, legislative and financial content, which require to be addressed if the aim of reducing child poverty is to be achieved and Government targets achieved.
Our members and social workers more widely are committed to meeting the needs of our citizens and particularly those who experience the greatest challenges and barriers to their wellbeing and lives. Our profession is based on the principles of human rights, reflecting the value of all individuals and upholding their rights This is expressed in the SSSC Codes of Practice and in the BASW code of ethics. These underline the inherent worth and dignity of all people, demonstrated in practice through relationships, and promotion of self-determination, participation and wellbeing.
Advocating for the wellbeing and rights of citizens at both practice and policy level, is part of the context within which social workers operate on a daily basis, balancing complex issues of competing rights and a challenging environment in which poverty and its impact is a significant aspect.
Policy Connection: Individuals and particularly children do not exist in isolation. Policies and decisions in seemingly unrelated areas can have a profound impact on the level of poverty experienced in families. Enabling a more joined up and comprehensive approach to policy and funding priorities has the power to transform the lives of children in a way that the current disconnected landscape and focus is unable to achieve.
Child poverty in Scotland has profound implications for social work. Where there is poverty, it affects every aspect of children’s lives and the services provided to them.
We recognise that this call for evidence is an important part of a parliamentary process to ensure scrutiny and transparency in our legislative landscape, and the focus on child poverty is welcome. However, legislation does not appear to be effectively addressing poverty. The questions asked in the consultation do not provide sufficient opportunity for a critique of the legislation and policy, which, in our view, limits the effectiveness of contributions to the solution to eradicating child poverty. We have therefore included and outlined our shared perspective on the pervasiveness of poverty, it’s multi-dimensional cause and impact, and the need to end siloed approaches to what is a societal issue.
The work needed to change this should be understood in the context of the wider causal factors which result in or impact on, child poverty
As organisations working daily with individuals impacted by poverty, we see the struggles that result and how family poverty contributes to an increased reliance on unpaid care, increases health inequalities, and reduces economic capacity and educational attainment. Poverty is also a factor in many public protection scenarios, substance use, crime and other societal and general wellbeing areas.
Planning, Investment and Monitoring: Social work leaders and others responsible for mitigating the worst effects of poverty on communities are inundated with action plans, reporting, and targets. While planning and monitoring is critical, these plans are often overlapping and complex, creating a confusing set of priorities and utilising vital resources which would otherwise be available for front line services. Attempts to reduce child poverty in this way has become a block rather than a facilitating factor.
To make a substantial impact on child poverty, as a society we need to invest to ensure services at all levels are resourced within communities, individuals and families across Scotland. Economic growth will aim this but it also means a strong safety net of social security and social work support coupled with a long-term focus to ensure that prosperity of Scotland benefits all.
This level of shift cannot be achieved by reporting, planning and willing services to do better with dwindling resources. It will take brave and extensive investment in front line teams and projects. Recent work around the social work workforce shows that well-resourced social work teams can play vital role in supporting communities to overcome the generational trauma, stigma and shame poverty can impose.
The Cost of Poverty: Poverty also carries with it a cost. It causes harm to the opportunities and wellbeing of Scotland’s current and future population and increases demand on public services. We hope that this response facilitates a constructive discussion on how we can do better as a society, tying policy areas together, considering funding in a non-compartmentalised and long-term manner, and tackling some of the source issues impacting not only on our children but our society as a whole. We provide information on research and policy as additional context to our views.
The reflections within this response are drawn from across our organisations and areas highlighted in a range of other consultation response over recent years. Our memberships cover social workers and social work leaders in both local authorities and third sector involved in delivery of services to children and adults, and justice.
