Social work news

• Local government pay deal reached after two unions agree to offer

  23-07-2025 16:51
  
  This year’s local government pay settlement for staff in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been agreed after two of the three unions gave their backing to employers’ offer.
  The deal, endorsed by UNISON and GMB, but not Unite, means staff will receive an uplift of 3.2% for 2025-26, backdated to April 2025. Given the makeup of negotiating body the National Joint Council for Local Government Services (NJC)*, it is sufficient for UNISON and one of the other two unions to agree a de
  
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• Further education leadership mentoring programme

  23-07-2025 16:39 via gov.uk
  Information about the support available from the further education (FE) leadership mentoring programme and how to apply.
  
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• My Brilliant Colleague: ‘She’s the kind of leader who leaves a lasting impact’

  23-07-2025 16:30
  
  Our My Brilliant Colleague series invites you to celebrate anyone who has inspired you in your career. It is part of Community Care’s ongoing Choose Social Work campaign, which aims to champion the brilliant work social workers do every day and inspire the next generation of practitioners.
  In this entry, social worker Noemi Dziatkowska celebrates her former manager, Ella Defreitas, whom she describes as a professional with “a real understanding of people’s lived experiences&rdq
  
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• Correspondence: DfE Update: 23 July 2025

  23-07-2025 14:37 via gov.uk
  Latest information and actions from the Department for Education about funding, assurance and resource management, for academies, local authorities and further education providers.
  
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• ‘Non-therapeutic circumcision of boys is a safeguarding concern’

  23-07-2025 09:19
  
  Dr Alejandro Sanchez is human rights lead at the National Secular Society, which campaigns against the ritual circumcision of boys as part of its wider aim of ending the privileging of religion within UK society. This is one of a pair of articles giving contrasting views on the circumcision of boys. In the other, Jonathan Arkush, co-chair of Milah UK, defends the practice of the circumcision of Jewish boys as a safe practice that is core to the community’s identity.
  Safeguarding sits at th
  
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• ‘Circumcision is a core value for the UK’s Jewish community – and a safe procedure for baby boys’

  23-07-2025 09:19
  
  Jonathan Arkush is a barrister and co-chair of Milah UK, a Jewish community organisation which protects and defends the practice of circumcision among British Jews. This is one of a pair of articles giving contrasting views on the circumcision of boys. In the other, Dr Alejandro Sanchez of the National Secular Society argues that the practice raises safeguarding concerns.
  On behalf of the United Kingdom’s Jewish community, I am proud to respond confidently and with clarity to the polemic d
  
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