Portsmouth's social care practitioners join forces on global awareness day

A 'celebration of social work' has been declared in Portsmouth to coincide with an international awareness day for the profession.

World Social Work Day is celebrated every year, to recognise social care practitioners who support their communities in different ways. This year's theme focuses on the need for social workers to adopt innovative, community-led approaches to support adults and families.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

"Social care practitioners go above and beyond for adults and children in the city every day. They are part of a group of people who rarely get the recognition they deserve, which makes international days like this, even more important.

"These practitioners will be coming together in their teams to reflect on their practice and celebrate their achievements. This is an important event that allows team members to have the space and time they require to learn, grow and develop as people and professionals."

Adult and children's social care have come together to organise a series of seminars on World Social Work Day, to support the development of team members.

It is also an opportunity to reconnect and network with colleagues across the social care workforce.

Councillor Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Health and Care at Portsmouth City Council said:

"World Social Work Day is a fantastic opportunity for us to support colleagues with a series of themed seminars.

"Both adult and children's social care believe that practitioners can learn from people's own life experiences. That's why, each speaker is uniquely placed to share their story, which in turn, can help practitioners develop new approaches to support their communities." 

Foster Portsmouth, a council service that supports foster carers in the city, will also be celebrating their community, encouraging people to become a foster carer.

The service will also be shining a light on the social workers who support families during the application process, to increase awareness about the assistance people receive.