Crossing Borders: Resource Pack for Social Workers

Crossing Borders is a resource pack for social workers that was first developed in 2001 on behalf of the National Social Work Qualifications Board (NSWQB), Republic of Ireland, and the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW), Northern Ireland. (The CCETSW was replaced in October 2001 by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC)). The two organisations shared a commitment to promote, encourage and facilitate cross-border mobility in social work. Within the wider European context, the organisations were among the most experienced in dealing with issues around social worker mobility.

Crossing Borders was compiled on the basis of extensive consultations with practising social workers, course providers, participants at a Crossing Borders seminar on 10 November 2000 and a Consultative Group.

It followed on from the Crossing Borders - Social Work Mobility Study (2001), a piece of research which identified commonalities and differences between social work training in the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with particular reference to areas of legislation, social policy, and organisation of social services. Together, the study and the resource pack formed a useful introduction to social work in the two jurisdictions.

While there is common agreement that social work skills are transferable across borders and that common core areas can be identified in social work training in both jurisdictions, and indeed worldwide, there are also considerable organisational and epistemological differences which can impede mobility.

Aim
The aim of Crossing Borders was therefore to facilitate cross-border mobility of social workers; both for those trained in the Northern Ireland who wish to work in the Republic of Ireland and vice versa, and for those trained elsewhere who wish to work in either jurisdiction. It did so by providing practical resources, references, and contact material in areas vital to cross-border social work practice. Since the publication of the original version in 2001 significant changes have been introduced to both policy and organisational structures in both jurisdictions. In response the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) commissioned the Care Sector Consultancy to produce a revised version of Crossing Borders relating to Northern Ireland that reflects arrangements in April 2006. The NSWQB has also updated the information relating to the Republic of Ireland, the latest update done in January 2010. Since the 2001 publication, newer versions of Crossing Borders are available only as an on-line resource and this facilitates on-going updating to reflect changes as they occur.

Use
Crossing Borders can be used:

by social workers new to either jurisdiction to increase their understanding of a new position, and its role and responsibilities within a new organisational structure;
by course providers in the Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in their teaching of comparative social work;
by employers of social workers in conjunction with existing induction programmes. The participation, advice and contribution of social work team leaders, supervisors and line managers will greatly enhance the benefit and value of this resource pack.

Resource Pack contents: Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland