Guest blog by Fiona McLeod, Minister for Children & Young People

 Today is World Social Work Day which gives us an opportunity to recognise the vital role social workers and their colleagues in wider social services play in our society. I’m pleased to be marking the day by taking part in two events which recognise the unique contribution and commitment that the social services sector makes to supporting people and strengthening our communities.

Working in social services is life-changing work and one of the most demanding tasks that the public ask professionals to do on our behalf. Collectively, what the sector delivers goes to the core of what it means to be a civilised and socially just society. With around 190,000 people, it is the largest public service workforce in Scotland. It is also a complex sector with organisations covering the private, third and public sectors.

Yet despite the scale and diversity of the services, what I have found is a sector unified by a strong set of shared values and ethics which underpins the care and support provided to vulnerable children and adults, their families and carers. I am delighted to be launching a new Vision and Strategy for Social Services in Scotland today. The strategy has been developed by the Social Work Services Strategic Forum which I chair, and whose membership includes Social Work Scotland, the Scottish Social Services Council, Cosla, the Care Inspectorate, the Coalition of Care Providers Scotland, Scottish Care, Scottish Association of Social Workers (SASW), SOLACE, UNISON, Social Work academics and the Scottish Government.

The vision is for “a socially just Scotland with excellent social services delivered by a skilled and valued workforce which works with others to empower, support and protect people, with a focus on prevention, early intervention and enablement.” The strategy represents a strong commitment to working in partnership across organisations and with government to deliver this vision for high quality and effective social services. It is also supportive of the Government policy on having in place a social services workforce which is competent, confident and valued.

Through my involvement in the forum, I have been particularly impressed by the real partnership, consensus and commitment demonstrated by all the partners in working together to develop and progress this shared vision and strategy.

Appreciating the role and value of social services is hugely important and I look forward to the second event I’ll be attending today which will do this – the Annual SASW Social Work Awards. This will be a great opportunity to highlight the dedication of those involved in social work. The nominees and winners have all been recognised for the excellent and valuable work they do on a daily basis.

So to all those that work within social services across Scotland, I wish you a happy World Social Work Day and thank you for your continued hard work and dedication.

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Saltire Scholars Victoria and Sharisse

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (SSS) is a scholarship programme that offers scholarships on a match funded basis and is a partnership between Scottish Government and Scottish Higher Education Institutions. SSS offers up to 200 awards, each worth £2000 and are put toward the tuition fees for any one year of full time study on an Undergraduate, Masters or PhD course at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions.

The scholarships are designed to support the promotion of Scotland as a learning nation and are targeted at the priority sectors of creative industries, life sciences, technology, financial services and renewable and clean energy and are available across Canada, China, India and the United States of America to people who want to study in Scotland.

Here two Canadian students, Victoria and Sharisse, share their experiences as Saltire Scholars:

Hi there! Or should I say, ‘Hiya!’ My Name is Sharisse Dukhu and I’m from Toronto, Canada. I completed an undergraduate degree in Physical and Health Education at the University of Toronto. Starting a Master of Science in Physiotherapy at Queen Margaret University was a natural stepping stone in my career path. I chose to further my education in Scotland to experience a new culture and to extend my personal and professional network across the pond.   More specifically, I was drawn to QMU as I also wanted to seize the opportunity of living in a small town like Musselburgh, without sacrificing the entertainment and historical charm that Edinburgh embodies. In addition to a supportive international team at QMU, the Saltire Scholarship has provided financial support which has allowed me to explore beyond academia. As a Saltire Scholar, I look for every opportunity to experience Scotland in a new way, and I have yet to be disappointed. Having taken a recent trip to Inverness and the Isle of Skye, words fail to express the natural beauty in the landscape and the kindness of the people.  I look forward to another year yet to come!

My name is Victoria Woodhouse, I am from Canada completing a Master of Science in Social Justice, Development and Health, a program unique to Queen Margaret University. I chose this collaborative program as it underlies the importance of equity, solidarity, human rights and health. The financial support received as a Saltire Scholar to offset tuition costs has enhanced my opportunity to maximize my academic experience. Attending university in Scotland as a Saltire Scholar is an excellent opportunity to interact with students from other countries and provide me with a global perspective necessary when working in the field of development. It has expanded my worldview to extend beyond the limits of my Canadian boundaries truly helping me become a global citizen. Scotland is the ideal place to study abroad. Not only have I experienced and learned about Scottish tradition, heritage and history but my life in Edinburgh, a festival city, provides a great opportunity to interact with students from around the world in a sophisticated, positive environment. QMU is an inclusive learning institution that provides me with knowledge and skill development and values my input and experience. It offers a comfortable, safe and respectful study environment. It is also recognized as an environmentally sustainable campus, a feature that is consistent with my principles. I am not only a student of QMU, I am a resident of Scotland. It has become my home away from home. The transition to living in Scotland has been seamless because of the welcoming and friendly people. Whether attending a Cèilidh or studying with my peers, my experience as a Saltire Scholar is helping to establish a solid platform for my future.

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