Post Cass: professional/regulatory organisations updating guidance

[PostGradSW]

Has anyone has experience of their regulator or professional bodies updating their guidance for supporting children who are questioning their gender identity or who now identify as Trans?

As my user name suggests I'm in the field of social work and the link below is the extent of the guidance from BASW:

www.basw.co.uk/basw-position-statement-social-work-transgender-people

For those who don't want to read, it is essentially very light on detail and makes no accommodations for Cass or Forstater.

We've been promised:

"BASW will develop and publish further policy and practice statements and guidance on trans issues in co-production with trans people, social workers and others with expertise to ensure BASW promotes effective social work practice in this field underpinned by human rights, social justice, good use of evidence and sound ethics. This work will be led by the Policy, Ethics and Human Rights Committee, the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisory group and the EDI lead staff member with responsibility for this area of equalities."
Yet there is zero sign of when this will be forthcoming.

In light of Cass stating "affirmation is not a neutral act" has anyone experienced their professional body updating their guidance?

Thank you

Hi @PostGradSW im also a sw but not working yet. No idea if my la have any guidance but Basw seem ideologically captured. Recently posted something about ‘transphobic dogwhistles’ by Jane Fae, a pro-pornography transwoman.

no evidence at all of critical thinking on their part. Have you seen the EBSWA website?

@FriendofJoanne

Thanks for your response!

Yes I'm in touch with EBSW and I also sighed deeply at the BASW link to the Fae article.

Based on what I've seen SWE and BASW are very much captured I'd agree.

It's so infuriating. There's absolutely no proper policy/guidance in respect of field work.

I'd hoped that Cass might bring some focus but despite its damning conclusions and the end of the hold from the Tavistock there seems to be little filtration from the research outside of this.

How as SW's are we to navigate a situation where our professional body centres an ideology over the best practice guidance from the NHS?

Also SWE have not issued any apology or reasoning for withdrawing their case against Rachel Meade, which does leave SWs in limbo a bit wondering if we will be supported in event of accusations of transphobia for not immediately affirming.

from my perspective I will fall back on the fact we have to have professional integrity and professional curiosity. There are great resources to use if you are working with a gender questioning child, the evidence is all there about the harms of the affirmative approach. I worked with a teen a couple of years ago and am very glad I’d seen in the news about whistleblowers at the Tavistock so did know it wouldn’t be good to refer her there.

I recommend Genspect and also GETA genderexploratory.com/

I do need to find work this year and was nervous about speaking out about gender ideology but now I don’t care. I will not do something which is harmful to children and vulnerable adults and I don’t want to be complicit by keeping silent.

so my GC views are clear on social media, but my name is not the same as my professional name and my fb profile is private. It might come back to bite me, but I’m lucky in that I don’t need to work atm. I’ve not registered yet since graduation (been in sw for years but as a swa) so don’t know if I’ll have problems when I do.

I’ve started a substack blog - I’d be very grateful if you have a look & give me some feedback. I want it to be a resource where the main issues are laid out for busy sws and other professionals

substack.com/profile/89125935-gender-critical-social-worker?utm_source=user-menu

Thank you again for your support.

We share the same perspectives I think.

I'm not yet in practice - got to finish my M.A. but will be applying for jobs shortly.

I'm very open about my views with my student cohort and frankly the vast majority agree.

Of course we all respect the experiences of every person we work with and want to offer them the best possible support.

I've had a quick look at your work. It's a really good start (I don't mean that in a derogatory way - rather there is so much to reference).

I'll DM you

Training as a psychotherapist. Accrediting body with BACP. Literal tumbleweed despite various attempts of direct questioning by myself and others. Also contacted pink news - they will still be taking the affirmative stance.

Thank you - I really appreciate that. It’s crazy it didn’t come up as an issue at all in my cohort! I didn’t see anything around campus either - I started in 2017 and studied part time.

Has it come up in any of your modules?

Thank you @Sparklybutold

Tumbleweed is exactly what I am seeing in my land zone.

Is so bloody depressing.

The lack of evidence based practice guidelines in favour of meaningless word salad.

Re: modules no - but only because there was a strike on the day of the LGBTQ+ skills day....