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| Irish Association of Social Workers | |
|---|---|
| Name | Irish Association of Social Workers |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Dublin |
| Region served | Ireland |
| Membership | Social workers, student social workers, retired social workers |
| Leader title | President |
Irish Association of Social Workers
The Irish Association of Social Workers is a professional body representing practitioners involved in social welfare, child protection, mental health services, community development and health and social care across Ireland. The association engages with statutory bodies such as Health Service Executive, interacts with higher education institutions including Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin, and liaises with international organisations like International Federation of Social Workers and British Association of Social Workers. It participates in policy debates with Irish legislative and regulatory institutions such as Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann and the Department of Health (Ireland).
The organisation was established amid social reform movements and changing welfare provision in the early 1970s alongside contemporaries such as Barnardos, Samaritans and Focus Ireland. Its development reflected shifts in Irish public policy after events including the enactment of child welfare legislation like the Child Care Act 1991 and welfare reforms influenced by European institutions such as the European Social Fund and the Council of Europe. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the association engaged with inquiries and reports produced by bodies such as the Commission on the Status of People With Disabilities and the Ryan Report, while connecting with academic research at centres including the Economic and Social Research Institute and the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology. In the 21st century it has worked on issues highlighted by cases handled by courts such as the Supreme Court of Ireland and has participated in cross-border initiatives involving Northern Ireland Office counterparts and organisations like The Atlantic Philanthropies.
The association’s mission aligns with principles articulated by international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, aiming to promote social justice and human rights in practice areas including child protection, elder care, mental health and community services. Objectives include influencing policy debates in institutions like Citizens Information Board and National Disability Authority, advancing professional education in partnership with universities such as University College Cork and National University of Ireland, Galway, and collaborating with professional regulators including the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). The organisation also seeks to advance standards articulated in international frameworks like the European Convention on Human Rights and engages with non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International and Barnardo's on rights-based campaigns.
Membership encompasses practitioners employed by agencies such as the Health Service Executive, NGOs including Crosscare and Barnardos, academics from institutions like Maynooth University, and students from schools such as the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. The association is governed by an elected executive committee and regional branches that mirror administrative divisions including Leinster, Munster, Connacht and Ulster. It maintains relationships with regulatory bodies such as CORU and international networks including European Social Work Research Association and International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW). Presidents and office-holders have engaged with public officials in venues like Government Buildings (Dublin) and Irish local authorities including Dublin City Council and Cork County Council.
The association endorses codes comparable to those promulgated by International Federation of Social Workers and aligns its guidance with regulatory expectations from CORU and standards developed in response to legislative acts such as the Disability Act 2005. It provides ethical frameworks for practice in sectors overseen by bodies like the Health Information and Quality Authority and responds to inquiries from tribunals such as the Health Service Executive Inquiry. The association has contributed to debates on confidentiality, informed consent and safeguarding that connect to jurisprudence from courts including the High Court (Ireland) and international human rights bodies such as the European Court of Human Rights.
The association collaborates with higher education providers including Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University College Cork, Maynooth University and National University of Ireland, Galway to influence curriculum development for qualifying awards. It interacts with professional regulators like CORU regarding accreditation standards and participates in competency discussions shaped by organisations such as the Quality and Qualifications Ireland and funding bodies like the Higher Education Authority. The association supports continuous professional development programmes involving trainers from institutes such as the Institute of Public Administration and exchanges with international academic partners including University of Edinburgh and King's College London.
The association advocates on policy issues with national bodies such as the Department of Health (Ireland), the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and parliamentary committees in Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann. It campaigns on matters also addressed by NGOs like Focus Ireland, Barnardos and Age Action Ireland, and collaborates with human rights organisations including Amnesty International and Irish Council for Civil Liberties. The association has submitted policy positions responding to reports from bodies such as the Oireachtas Committee and the Citizens Information Board and has engaged in public inquiries led by entities including the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.
The association publishes practice guidance, policy briefs and position papers comparable to professional outputs from organisations like the British Association of Social Workers and academic journals such as Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine and Child Care in Practice. It organises conferences and professional development events attracting contributors from institutions such as Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, University of Edinburgh, and speakers from international organisations including International Federation of Social Workers and European Social Work Research Association. The association’s events have taken place in venues associated with universities, civic bodies such as Civic Theatre (Tallaght), and conference centres in cities like Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.
Category:Social work organisations in Ireland