Racism Exhausts Social Worker

Jade Forbes, a social worker, described the frequent racism she faces as emotionally draining, comparable to "death by a thousand cuts."

Forbes, who is black and has served in south Wales for over a decade, reported that these encounters impacted her mental well-being and felt isolating given her peers' lack of similar experiences.

Forbes, 37, called for more robust policies and training to address racism, highlighting the likelihood that clients also face racism. Her career's toughest time was after George Floyd's death, which sparked troubling justifications of racial violence among some colleagues.

The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Cymru and Social Care Wales acknowledge the need for more data to combat racism, with BASW Cymru noting an imbalance in reports between staff and clients.

Abyd Quinn-Aziz of BASW Cymru pointed to a pressing need for an understanding of racism's mechanisms and impact, mentioning the rarity of non-white leadership in Welsh social services.

Social Care Wales indicated that the sector, where 80% of social workers are white, must adhere to anti-racist principles. David Pritchard, SCW's regulation director, emphasized the role of data and research in addressing racism in society.