The Anti-Racist Social Worker stories of activism by social care and allied health professionals

Introduction Tanya Moore and Glory Simango

Ch 1 Mentoring for Inclusion Glory Simango and Tanya Moore

Ch 2 SWAction21 Tanya Moore

Ch 3 The Road to Activism Diana Katoto & Omar Mohammed

Ch 4 Activism in Academia Zoe Thomas

Ch 5 Journey to Allyship Liz Howard

Ch 6 Rewiring My Racist Brain Jo Williams

Ch 7 The Romani and Traveller perspective Dan Allen, Doreen Dove, Allison Hulmes & Mairtain Moloney-Neachtain

Ch 8 If not now, when? On Jewishness and Challenging Antisemitism Victoria Hart 

Ch 9 Dialogues on Race in Communities of Practice Lydia Guthrie & Marie Otton

Ch 10 Moving Forward together: Developing an Anti-Racist social work team Jen Hooper & Akwasi Sefa-Boakye

Ch 11 Let’s Talk about Race Baldish McGurrin

Ch 12 Creation of Anti-Racist Organisation Liz Fergus and Chi Nyasvimbo

Ch 13 The Social Care WRES Mark Harvey, Nimal Jude and Zohal Shafiq

Ch 14 It’s not Black and White Sherlyn Graham and Catherine Greenlaw

Personal Pledges

Biography

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.

As the East of England regional representative of the CAHPO Ethnic Minority Strategic Advisory Group, I am committed to develop myself as a more inclusive leader who role models anti-racist values and behaviour at all times, and to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion are always embedded fully within our regional AHP workforce development.

Being a non-racist is not enough, we need to be anti-racist! Stories quoted within this amazing book have showcased the need of building anti-racist policies to reduce racial inequality. I do believe that the time for talking is over and now it’s time for us to take some real actions to make the changes.”

Yat TsangAllied Health Professional (AHP)

I was compelled to keep reading this book owing to the authenticity of the voices, their stories challenging me to take action against systems and attitudes - no matter how big or small. The openness of their accounts make clear their own learning journey, the barriers faced and attempts to overcome them that has been far from easy, and they illuminate the many gains from deciding to take action for the individual, others and our communities. Passivity, Inactivity is not an option in anti-racist social work. This book tackles some difficult issues, peeling back previous misconceptions and the consequences of staying silent. It may not be an easy read for some … but from my perspective as a black woman in social work education, it is refreshing! We have a responsibility to take action on a personal, team and organisational level and activism against racism is better together!

Vida DouglasProfessional Lead for Social Work, University of Hertfordshire

This book is a great resource for the health and social care workforce that demonstrates the difficulties, racism and discrimination black social workers have experienced with discussions around racism, anti-racism and allyship. Alongside direct practical steps one could take in their journey towards anti-racist allyship. It is important that individuals are empowered to do their part to combat injustices at an individual level as well as an institutional level and birth true and authentic anti-racist allyship and equity. This book is a starting point and should be accessible for practitioners, educators and students alike.

Kalimah IbrahiimOccupational Therapist and founding member of BAME OT UK network.