BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS
NORTHERN IRELAND STANDING COMMITTEE
(hereafter known as the Committee)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Our Values and Mission

BASW membership is about collective commitment to the Association’s Code of
Ethics, supporting one another and working inclusively to promote our profession.

To promote best practice for service users and carers by ensuring the professional
standards of social work.
Key objectives

The Committee will uphold the primary objectives of the Association:“i) To promote the advancement of social work as a profession in all or any of
its aspects;
ii) To relieve poverty and its effects;
iii) To promote the education of the public in matters of social policy, social
organisation and social problems;
iv) To promote the education and training of social workers for the benefit of
the public.”
Activities

The Committee will work on behalf of members in Northern Ireland, as well as
working in partnership with other committees of BASW and its Council.

The Committee will actively promote membership.

As a National Standing Committee of the Association, the Committee will:i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
Further the objectives of the Association in Northern Ireland within a
governance framework;
In conjunction with Association staff, formulate and execute an annual
programme of activities in Northern Ireland, having regard to the
Association’s overall priorities and the resources available;
Seek and represent Northern Ireland members’ opinions in relation to the
objectives of the Association and promote communication between
members and BASW Council and other committees;
Engage with any other organisation and persons involved in similar
relevant activity and lobby where appropriate;
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
xi)
xii)
xiii)
Make appointments and nominate representatives to Committees or bodies
concerned with social work or social workers in Northern Ireland;
Promote and/or commission research and comment on social work policy
and practice in Northern Ireland;
Publish material and reports concerning matters affecting social work and
social workers in Northern Ireland;
Disseminate guidance on matters affecting social work and social workers
in Northern Ireland;
Promote training opportunities, hold conferences and seminars and where
possible create income generation;
Ensure effective management of the Association’s finances and other
resources;
Promote rights, participation and partnership in the practice and
development of social work services activity;
Contribute to the development of and engage with policy consultations
To support staff care policies.
All activities of the Committee will be underpinned by anti-oppressive and antidiscriminatory policies
Status
1.
2.
3.
The Committee is a National Standing Committee of the Association
Meetings will normally take place monthly with a minimum of 6 meetings per
year.
A meeting may be called by any Committee member in consultation with the
Chair/Deputy Chair and/or the Professional Officer.
Membership of the Committee
1. The total membership of the Committee shall be up to 15 members, elected from
the membership in Northern Ireland, including the Chair, Immediate Past Chair
and the Deputy Chair.
2. From the Third Annual Meeting after nomination/election Committee Members
can be re-elected and/or nominated by the membership, i.e. no member shall be a
member of the committee for a period of longer than 3 years without re-election
/nomination.
3. A committee member shall be a member for no longer than 6 consecutive years.
4. Normally all nominations to the Committee will be subject to an election by the
BASW Northern Ireland membership. Where there are fewer nominations than
vacancies on the Committee, there will be no requirement for an election.
5. One place will be reserved for a student of social work at any of the qualifying
courses in Northern Ireland.
6. A maximum of 2 additional members may be co-opted onto the Committee, for a
specified period of time, no more than 5 consecutive years in order that the
Committee may make use of a person’s specific skills and knowledge.
7. The Committee shall have the power to fill casual vacancies with the appointee
being subject to election at the annual members meeting.
8. If any member is representing the Association they will be expected to provide
feedback and/or a report to the Committee.
Roles
Chair and Deputy Chair
1. Northern Ireland Committee members will elect a Chair from its members.
The Chair will serve for 2 years with the option of a further 2 years subject to
agreement/election by the Committee. The term of office will be for a
maximum of 4 years.
2. The Northern Ireland Committee members will elect a Deputy Chair, which
will be open for election every year with a maximum of a 4 year term of
office. The Deputy Chair will not automatically succeed as Chair.
Tenure
1. The Chair of a Committee shall hold office from the conclusion of the first
Annual General Meeting (UK) following the relevant ballot until the
conclusion of the second AGM following the one at which he or she was
elected. The Chair then has the option of a further two years following the
relevant agreement/election of the Northern Ireland Committee. The Chair
shall not be eligible for re-election following the fourth AGM of serving as
Chair.
2. The Deputy Chair of a Committee shall hold office from the conclusion of the
first Annual General Meeting (UK) following the relevant ballot until the
conclusion of the first AGM following the one at which he or she was elected.
The Deputy Chair is then eligible for re-election every year with a maximum
of 4 years by agreement of the Committee.
3. The Chair shall not be eligible for re-election to the office of Deputy Chair of
the National Standing Committee until the conclusion of the second AGM
(UK) after the one at the conclusion of which he/she retired as Chair of the
Committee, but shall remain as a member of the Northern Ireland National
Standing Committee as its Immediate Past Chair until the conclusion of the
next AGM (UK) after the one at the conclusion of which he/she retired as
Chair of the Northern Ireland National Standing Committee. (BASW
Memorandum & Articles of Association).
4. A retiring officer may be re-appointed.
5. Non-attendance of two meetings without apology constitutes resignation.
Quorum
The quorum shall be not less than 4 members. The Chair will have a casting vote. In
absence of the Chair, committee will appoint a member to Chair.
Annual Meeting – to be known as Annual Members Meeting
At least one Members Meeting will be called in each calendar year. Notice of annual
meetings will be placed in Professional Social Work and each member will receive
notification by post.
Relationship to BASW UK Council
The Chair will automatically sit on Council for their term of office. The Deputy Chair
will sit on Council for their first year of office with an option of another year should
they be re-elected. Otherwise vacancies are open to committee members.
The Memorandum Articles and By-Laws of the Association are the underpinning
reference points for these Terms of Reference, and where there is doubt they should
be consulted.
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