Paul,
   You have my complete support and deep appreciation for the work you have done, for eliciting members' views and contributions, and for your skill in assessing and integrating suggestions.  I am particularly glad that you checked NO on the questionnaire and specifically articulated the basis for opposition as lodged in the IFSW Health policy statement and the ethics positions.  This grounds us in principled opposition and advocacy.  Thank you.
Stephen

Stephen M. Rose, Ph.D.
Professor, College of Health Professions
University of New England - Westbrook Campus
716 Stevens Avenue
Portland, Maine 04103
(207) 221-4431
[log in to unmask]
(fax) (207) 221-4719
>>> Paul Bywaters <[log in to unmask]> 11/25/10 7:13 AM >>>
Thanks very much to Kate for these comments. We have got a little time left before we have to submit our response to the questionnaire but I have begun to draft it - see attachment. I haven't responded specifically to Kate's points, which I've only just seen, but much of what she says is already included.
 
I think I have been quite strong and prescriptive in what I am proposing to say on the Network's behalf, including saying that we cannot support the current document, and so it is vital that you let me know if you don't agree with what I am arguing or that you think it's best not said in our response at this stage. It might be best, if possible, for proposed changes to the text and comments to be written using track changes.
 
Please send any comments to all members and not just to me so that others can join in the debates. 
 
After this round of consultation, I will check the final version of our response with Kate and Julie before it goes off.
 
I hope that's OK.
 
Paul
 
Paul Bywaters
Emeritus Professor of Social Work
Coventry University
 

________________________________

From: Contacts and Members of SW and Health Inequalities Network on behalf of K KARBAN
Sent: Thu 25/11/2010 08:48
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Global agenda for social work



Thanks to everyone who has responded already to this discussion and to 
Paul for working on our response and more generally for pushing for 
issues of health inequalities to be high on the agenda.

I think there is a little more time in the next week for others to 
contribute to this discussion, and we would like to encourage people 
to do so.

In addition to the points that have already been  raised by Paul and 
also by Julie and Stephen, which I very much support, I would like to 
add the following comments:

Preamble:

'...modalities for monitoring our efforts.'  One of the challenges in 
the statement as it is  written is the near absence of any clear 
goals, although maybe this will logically follow on from this 
document.  However I think I would want to see something about 
achieving objectives rather than simply monitoring. In terms of 
strategic action the statement does feel rather weak - eg in 
Modalities of engagement...mobilising social workers etc raises 
questions about how this might be done.

Global agenda..

In my view the various strands here need to linked together within an 
integrative framework or statement.  This is really Paul's point about 
a background analysis that would provide a global  context 
acknowledging political and economic factors and highlight 
inequalities including health inequalities.
There is also the increasing commodification of health and welfare 
which needs challenging. Overall I would want to see an agenda that is 
tranformative.

Under the heading of 'new challenges'the statement refers to extending 
partnerships, should this be stronger?  I am thinking of building 
alliances with grass roots and community organisations to strengthen 
the base from which we can challenge inequalities and oppression as 
well as policy directives and initiatives that we believe will further 
increase inequalities and.

The section on human relationships also needs to reflect the 
complexity of this and to acknowledge the interaction of the various 
issues that are listed.  Perhaps this could start by referring to the 
importance of promoting overall health and well-being and the 
interaction between mental and physical health and the embodiment of 
inequality.

There is a point later on the document which refers to integrating 
technologies.  I think this is rather more complex as there are many 
situations where technology becomes the driving force for practice 
detracting from what might be seen as the heart of social work in 
terms of relationships etc.

Best wishes
Kate

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