The Role and Achievements of a Professional Association in the Late Twentieth Century: The British Association of Social Workers 1970-2000

Abstract

The formation in 1970, in concert with wider policy trends, and the work of BASW during its first 30 years are reported and assessed. The structure, internal issues, finances, personnel, professional and social policy work and publishing operations are considered together with contemporaneous commentary on its achievements. Conflict around membership policies and its professional association role in relation to trade union activities were inherent in its formation. Professional achievements included work on accreditation of social workers, a code of ethics and the ‘new professionalism’, including client participation and case recording. Policy achievements included work on reform of mental health and child‐care legislation and campaigns on poverty and social security and constraints on social services expenditure. Internal conflict and financial insecurity have limited BASW's impact. However, as a small professional association in a developing field with other powerful stakeholders, it has achievements where alliances with other stakeholders and commercial operators are established and when internal finance and personnel are stable. Professionalization in relation to community activism and trade unionism remains an issue.