The Association is divided into regions, so that all our members, as well as being part of a national organisation, can be part of their regional group.
The regional groups tend to meet four times a year and offer members a chance to come together, perhaps to listen to a speaker on a chosen topic, and then exchange ideas, experiences and news about what is happening in local hospices and palliative care units.
Many regional groups offer a “buddy” or mentoring service whereby a social worker, new to palliative care, can access support from a fellow member, who may have more experience. This is especially helpful for those who might be working as the lone social worker in a team or unit.
Each regional group has a representative on the Association’s committee and this means that regional concerns can be raised at national level and that we can be truly responsive to our members.
Each region within the four countries of the United Kingdom has developed its own style of contact. Diversity to meet the needs of the members within each of the region is encouraged and each region has a distinctive style. The Scottish region has a large geographical area to unite, and responds to a different legislative framework provided by the Scottish Parliament. The Northern Ireland region has strong links with workers in allied health fields and has embraced social workers from related areas of work in a region with very few specialist palliative care social workers. Excellent links are made across the border with colleagues in the Republic of Ireland.
In Wales there is no autonomous region as such, and those in the south attend meetings of the South West region and at present both the mid and northern Wales areas feed into the Midland or Northern regional groups. This reflects the fractured geographical nature of the country and its transport links. England itself divided into the Northern region which starts just above Nottingham and Derby, reaching up to the borders of Scotland; the Midlands region stretches from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, leaving East Anglia, the South West, London South West and London South East as the remaining regions.
Members are encouraged to choose a region that they can reasonably access rather than being automatically allocated a region by the Association. Regional meetings usually include a training element as well as feedback from the National Committee and relevant local issues.
Historically the regions take it in turns to host the Annual Conference and are encouraged to choose the theme, the speakers and the venue. Each year the conference provides an excellent opportunity for members to learn, share and experience the diversity of work which fellow social workers undertake.
