The Anti-Racist Social Worker: stories of direct action in social care and occupational therapy

This is the story of an anti-racist campaign staged by social workers and allied health professionals which encourages readers to consider their own possibilities for anti-racist action.

The murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and subsequent expression of anger, frustration and grief at the continued existence of racism led to more sophisticated and honest conversations about racism and its impact. Social work also started to recognise its own problem with racist systems and its failure as a profession that strives for social justice to have addressed this in any meaningful way.

The Anti-Racist Social Worker describe a successful campaign of anti-racist direct action that was staged by a small group of social workers and occupational therapists. The opening chapter tells the story of the campaign from the coming together of the campaign group to the concluding day of action. Subsequent chapters are written by campaign members at different stages of their career, from student social worker to Chief Social Worker for England. Each describes journeys to and stories of anti-racist activism. These stories are about either the writers’ experiences of racism and how this translated into action or their growing understanding of the impact of racism and subsequent decision to take personal action. Importantly, each chapter offers a personal case study and therefore a suggestion of individual anti-racist action that can be taken by social workers.

The Anti-Racist Social Worker is a call for action told through individual stories. It shows how those in social care and allied health professions can contribute in a meaningful way to the creation of the change we need and encourages everyone to consider their own roles in dismantling racism.

Dr Tanya Moore has been working in social work and social care for more than 30 years as a practitioner, educator and practice leader. She is currently Principal Social Worker in Hertfordshire Adult Care Services and Doctoral Supervisor at The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Her research is on the emotional experience of continuing professional development for social workers but she has also published on the use of a complexity lens for organisational change in social care. Tanya actively promotes the use of theoretically informed reflective practice across all areas of social work. She believes that people who draw on care and support services are entitled to nothing less.

Glory Simango is a social worker and gained her Masters in Social Work at Middlesex University. Current she is practicing at an adult social worker. Glory has been working in the social care industry for the past nine years. Glory has a passion for bring change into people’s lives and social justice.