NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION
OF SOCIAL
WORKERS IN
EDUCATION
Founded 1884
ASSOCIATION
OF SOCIAL
WORKERS IN
EDUCATION
Founded 1884
The Association shall be named the National Association of Social Workers in Education
The objectives of the Association shall be:
2.1 To advance, promote and protect the interests of its members.
2.2 To improve and safeguard the status of those working to promote the life chances of children and young people in the education service.
2.3 To encourage the development of training and professional practice and to disseminate information within the field.
2.4 To promote research and development in related fields.
2.5 To protect the rights of children and young people by establishing and fostering co-operation with other professional organisations working in the interests of children and young people.
2.6 To fulfil the conditions of the closer working agreement with Unison.
2.7 To work closely with other recognised professional associations and trade unions in the interests of members.
3.1 Membership includes Education Welfare Officers, Education Social Workers and others working in related fields. Membership of the Association shall be subject to the approval of the National Council.
3.2 Retired Membership
Retired membership shall be open to any members on retirement from their employment. A single annual subscription rate, fixed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) will apply.
3.3 Honorary Life Membership
Honorary life membership shall be awarded to members who have given distinguished service to the Association, with the approval of the AGM on the recommendation of the National Council.
3.4 Expulsion
The National Council or any local branch, subject to the approval of National Council, may expel any member(s) whose conduct is deemed to be detrimental to the good of the Association. Any member so expelled or denied membership by the National Council shall have the right of appeal to the AGM. See code of conduct
3.5 The Regions of the Association are set out in Appendix A
The Association shall be organised as follows:
4.1 Branches:
4.1.1 Branches may be formed within a Region where five or more members wish to form a Branch, providing no member is a member of more than one Branch.
4.1.2 Branch rules shall be submitted to the National Council for approval.
4.2 Single Members:
4.21 When no Branch exists, members of the Association shall be designated single members.
4.3 Regions:
4.3.1 Regions shall be formed consisting of the branches and single members outlined in the areas defined in Appendix A.
4.3.2 Regional rules shall be submitted to the National Council for approval.
4.3.3 Regions shall elect a representative to the National Council in accordance with the rules, to be known as the Regional Co-ordinator.
4.3.4 Regions shall submit a report on activities and developments to the General Secretary annually at a time designated by the National Council.
5.1 Only members shall be eligible to serve on the National Council.
5.2 The National Council
5.2.1 The Association shall be governed by a National Council consisting of:
5.2.2 Election of Council
Officers of the National Council shall be elected by members, duly nominated and seconded.
5.2.3 All officers shall be appointed for 3 years except the President, who will be appointed for two years unless, with a two thirds majority, the AGM decides to extend this period by 1 year to a maximum of 3 years
5.2.4 Nominations for General Secretary shall be made in writing and forwarded to the President, to be received not later than 31st January in any year:
5.2.5 Nominations for the following posts shall be made in writing and forwarded to the General Secretary, to be received not later than 31st January in any year:
5.2.6 Regional Co-ordinators shall be appointed by their respective Regions
5.3 Lack of Nominations
In the event of no nominations being received for any post, the National Council shall have the power to fill vacant posts from the membership of the Association.
5.4 Ballots
(a) If an election is necessary, the General Secretary shall distribute ballot papers not later than 21 days before the closing date for the return of ballot papers. The ballot papers shall be returned to the General Secretary in a sealed envelope marked “Ballot Paper”.
(b) In the event of an election for General Secretary, ballot papers shall be returned to the President.
(c) Every member of the Association shall be entitled to vote in an election, except for a post of Regional Co-ordinator, where only members within that Region shall be entitled to vote. No member shall be entitled to more than one vote for any one post.
(d) Scrutineers
The National Council shall make arrangements for ballots and the appointment of scrutineers who will be responsible for ensuring the proper conduct of any ballot, and shall not be members of the National Council.
5.5 Replacement of National Council Members.
A member of the National Council, other than the General Secretary, wishing to resign during his or her term of office, shall do so in writing to the General Secretary. The General Secretary wishing to resign shall do so in writing to the President. In the event of a vacancy occurring, the National Council shall ensure that a temporary appointment is made to cover the vacancy until a ballot is held at the earliest convenient date, or in any event, within six months of the vacancy occurring.
5.6 Removal of National Council Members
5.6.1 Any Officer of the National Council may be removed from office at any time during their period of office by a vote of no confidence at either the AGM or at a Special General Meeting (SGM).
6.1 The National Council
6.1.1 The National Council shall meet at least three times annually.
6.1.2 Quorum
No fewer than six members shall be present during the whole period of the meeting. These shall include the President or Past President or President Elect, and the General Secretary or Administration Officer.
6.2 PROCEDURES COMMITTEE.
6.2.1 Membership:
6.2.2 The Procedures Committee shall be an independent group of 3 members elected at the AGM.
6.2.3 The Chairperson shall not be a member of the National Council.
6.2.4 The Chairperson shall determine the dates and venues of the meetings. He or she may also, where appropriate, make arrangements for business to be conducted electronically.
6.2.5 The Procedures Committee shall be responsible for the proper conduct of Conference business by:
(a) Ensuring that motions and rule changes are competent, composite and, where appropriate, worded to reflect the intentions of the proposer(s); and
(b) Advising on the management and progress of Conference business.
6.3 TASK GROUPS
6.3.1 The National Council may establish a task group, or may agree to the establishment of a task group
6.3.2 The National Council shall agree the terms of reference for any task group including the duration of the group
6.4 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Association shall hold an AGM for members at a time and place agreed by the National Council.
6.5 NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The Association shall hold a Conference, which shall incorporate the Annual General Meeting, at least every two years, at a time and a place agreed at the AGM.
6.6 SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS (SGM)
6.6.1 A Special General Meeting may be called under the following circumstances:
(a) By direction of the National Council, at such time and place as the National Council may decide, or
(b) Within 45 days of receipt of a written requisition signed by not less than 10% of the membership.
6.6.2 A written requisition for a Special General Meeting must state the terms of the motion(s) to be debated at that meeting.
6.6.3 Members shall be given not less that 28 days notice of the date, time and place of a Special General Meeting and the terms of the motion(s) to be debated.
6.6.4 Amendments to the motion(s) may be submitted by the National Council, Regions, Branches or single members not later than 14 days before the meeting.
6.6.5 Only the business submitted may be debated and no other business shall be transacted.
7.1 The Constitution and Rules of the Association shall not be altered, added to or rescinded, except by resolution at the AGM or at a Special General Meeting called in accordance with the rules of the Association.
7.2 Proposals for alterations, additions, or the rescinding of parts of the Constitution or Rule Changes, shall be distributed to members by the General Secretary within 8 weeks of the AGM or SGM resolution.
7.3 Proposals for changes to the Constitution shall be dealt with in the same manner and be subject to the same timetable as motions submitted for consideration at the AGM.
7.4 Any changes to the Constitution require a two thirds majority of those present and voting.
7.5 Any changes to the Rules may be made by a simple majority of those present and voting.
8.0 DUTIES OF NATIONAL OFFICERS – to be drafted
8.1 The General Secretary
8.2 Administrator – to be drafted
8.3 Publications Co-ordinator – to be drafted
8.4 Policy Co-ordinator – to be drafted
8.5 Training and Development Co-ordinator - to be drafted
8.6 Business Co-ordinator – to be drafted
8.7 President – to be drafted
8.8 President Elect – to be drafted
8.9 Past President - to be drafted
8.10 Regional Co-ordinators
8.11 Four Nations Co-ordinator – to be drafted
In addition to the duties set out in 8.10, Regional Co-ordinators representing Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland are:
8.12 Web Co-ordinator – to be drafted
8.13 Treasurer – to be drafted
8.14 Member’s Co-ordinator
8.15 On retirement from office, all Officers shall hand over to their successor all books, papers, accounts etc. appertaining to the post.
9.1 Rates
9.1.1 The AGM shall agree the rate of membership subscriptions.
9.1.2 Subscriptions will last for twelve months.
9.1.3 Branches and Regions may fix a rate of subscription for local purposes in addition to national membership subscriptions.
9.2 Payment of Subscriptions
9.2.1 Subscriptions shall be paid to the Business Co-ordinator in advance.
9.2.2 Subscriptions can be paid annually by cash, cheque, standing order, or quarterly by standing order only.
9.2.3 Membership shall be deemed to have lapsed when a member’s subscriptions are three months in arrears. Members shall be notified at least one month before their membership is due to lapse.
9.2.4 Members shall be personally responsible for payment of their subscriptions. The failure of a collector or another officer to ask for payment shall not be a valid reason for non-payment.
9.3 Additional Levy
The AGM may resolve, by a majority of two thirds of those present and voting, to impose an additional levy.
10.1 The National Council has the power to authorise reasonable expenses of National Council members and other persons representing the Association on approved business.
10.2 When the President or any other member of the National Council is invited to attend Regional or Branch functions and meetings, it shall be the responsibility of the Region or Branch concerned to meet any expenses incurred. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Business Co-ordinator and President or General Secretary.
11.1 The funds of the Association shall be deposited in a Bank or Building Society.
11.2 Withdrawals shall be authorised by any two of the following:
President, General Secretary, Business Co-ordinator and Publications Co-ordinator
11.3 Regional Events
11.3.1 Financing arrangements concerning all regional events shall be agreed in advance between the Business Co-ordinator, the Regional Treasurer and the Branch Treasurer where applicable.
11.3.1 Any loss incurred shall be taken from regional funds unless otherwise agreed in advance. Similarly, any profits shall be paid into regional funds unless agreed otherwise in advance.
11.4 Auditors
11.4.1 Two auditors shall be appointed by the AGM.
11.4.2 The auditors shall examine the Statement of Accounts drawn up by the Business Co-ordinator for the period 1st January to 31st December each year and the account books and financial records.
11.4.3 The auditors shall be required to submit a report to the AGM.
12.1 The order of business shall be as follows, subject to alterations at the discretion of the Chairperson, who may vary the order of any business specified on the agenda at any stage of the proceedings:
(1) Roll Call and apologies for absence. (The roll shall show the members and visitors attending for each session.)
(2) President’s remarks
(3) Minutes of the previous AGM
(4) Matters Arising
(5) Correspondence
(6) Appointment of Tellers for the AGM
(7) National Council & Service Group Reports:
(8) Election results and appointments
1. Appointment of Auditors
2. Posts not filled by nomination or election
3. Resolutions, including proposed changes to the Constitution and Rules, which shall take precedence over other resolutions (resolutions and rule changes to be circulated to members prior to the AGM in line with Standing Orders)
12.2 Notice of Motions to the AGM
12.2.1 Motions for an AGM may only be made by the National Council, Regions, Branches or single members.
12.3 Emergency Motions
12.3.1 A motion or amendment not already on the agenda cannot be submitted:
(a) Without prior approval of the Procedures Committee
(b) Without consent of the AGM
12.3.2 Emergency motions or amendments shall be submitted in writing signed by the member who proposes to move it. The member shall have the right to address the Procedures Committee to explain the reasons for submitting the motion or amendment, prior to the Committee reaching a decision.
12.3.3 When the motion has been considered and approved by the Procedures Committee, it shall be read to the AGM, and the AGM shall be informed of the decision of the Committee.
12.3.4 The Chair may then seek approval of the AGM to consider the matter.
12.3.5 If the AGM agree to consider the matter, the member who has proposed the motion shall speak to the AGM.
12.3.6 The Procedures Committee will decide the order of any emergency motions or rules changes. These will be heard after the rules changes and motions already on the agenda.
12.3.7 No motion or amendment relating to the subject matter of a debate shall be considered by the Procedures Committee after the commencement of that debate.
12.4 Agenda Papers
12.4.1 The motions together with amendments shall be incorporated in the agenda, which shall be sent to Regions and Branch Secretaries for circulation to members and single members not less than four weeks prior to the date of the AGM.
12.4.2 Agenda papers shall be sent to members due to attend the AGM not less than 2 weeks before the date of the AGM.
12.5 Representation for Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings (Branch Votes)
12.5.1 A Branch may elect one delegate for each ten or part of ten members, or elect for a Branch vote to be allocated to a single delegate.
12.5.2 Branch Secretaries shall be required to submit the names and addresses of delegates to the General Secretary no later than two weeks before a meeting.
12.5.3 Substitutes may be appointed provided the General Secretary is notified in writing before the meeting.
12.5.4 Failure to comply with this rule will preclude the Branch (es) concerned from a vote.
12.5.5 The General Secretary, in consultation with those organising Conference, shall prepare a list of delegates and members attending an AGM or SGM. Delegates and members shall be required to register their attendance at the commencement of each session.
12.5.6 At registration, Branch members will be issued with a voting card.
12.5.7 Branch delegates shall be supplied with a separate card to be used in the event of a card vote, denoting the strength of the Branch (the voting strength being determined by the number of fully paid up members according to the records of the Business Co-ordinator)
12.5.8 A separate card shall also be supplied to fully paid up single members at registration.
12.6 Voting at AGMs and SGMs.
12.6.1 Voting shall be open to all members.
12.6.2 A decision shall be taken by simple majority, except for changes to the Constitution, which shall require a majority of two thirds of those present and voting.
12.6.3 A decision shall be taken on a show of hands unless a card vote is requested.
12.7 Card Votes.
12.7.1 A card vote may be requested by 10 members, or no less than 10% of those present and voting, whichever is the lesser.
12.7.2 A request for a card vote can only be made by a voting member declaring after the show of hands but before the result is declared.
12.7.3 When a card vote is taken, individual votes are invalid when a Branch delegate vote is being exercised on behalf of individual Branch members.
12.7.4 A card vote shall be taken immediately after it has been requested and the result declared as soon as is practically possible. The Chair of the AGM or SGM reserves the right to suspend business pending the declaration of a vote.
12.8 Declaration of Vote
12.8.1 Where votes are decided, whether by show of hands or by card vote, the declaration by the Chair shall be accepted as final. An entry made in the minutes of the proceedings shall be sufficient evidence of the fact.
12.8.2 The Chair may, at his or her discretion, require that a vote by show of hands be taken again.
12.8.3 In the event of an equality of votes, either by show of hands or card vote, the Chair shall declare the motion or amendment carried.
12.9 Standing Orders For Annual General Meetings and Special General Meetings
12.9.1 Procedural Motions
The following motions may be moved at any time without previous notice on the agenda:
(a) precedence is given to any particular business on the agenda
(b) leave is given to withdraw or amend a motion or an amendment
(c) referral to the National Council for consideration
(d) the question be now put (The Chair shall have discretion to caution the meeting not to accept this motion if in his/her opinion there has been insufficient discussion of the particular motion or amendment under debate.)
(e) the meeting proceed to the next business
(f) the speaker be no longer heard
(g) the debate be adjourned
(h) the meeting be adjourned
(i) the meeting or any part of the meeting be held in private session
(j) Such other motion as the meeting has agreed to consider under Rule 12.3 provided that:
12.10 Speaking to Motions
12.10.1 A member, when addressing the meeting, shall state his or her name and any Region or Branch he or she represents.
12.10.2 A representative shall not move more than one amendment to any one motion; nor shall the mover of a motion move any amendment to such a motion.
12.10.3 A representative shall not speak more than once to the same motion or amendment except in explanation, or
12.10.4 being the mover of the motion or of an amendment which has become a substantive motion, uses the right to reply.
12.11 Time Limits
12.11.1 The mover of a motion or amendment shall not be allowed to speak for longer than 10 minutes.
12.11.2 Each succeeding speaker shall not be allowed to speak for longer than five minutes.
12.11.3 The prescribed time limit may be exceeded by periods of five minutes only with the consent of the meeting.
12.12 Amendments
12.12.1 If an amendment to a motion is moved, this amendment must be disposed of before any further amendment may be moved to the original motion.
12.12.2 If an amendment is lost, a further amendment may be moved to the original motion, but only one amendment may be submitted at any one time.
12.12.3 Whenever an amendment to a motion is declared carried, the amended motion will become the substantive motion to which a further amendment may be moved.
12.13 Right of Reply
12.13.1 The mover of a motion, including the mover of an amendment that has become a substantive motion, shall have the right of reply.
12.13.2 Replies must be confined to answering previous speakers, and no new matter may be introduced.
12.13.3 After the reply, if any, the motion or amendment shall be put to the vote.
12.13.4 The mover of an amendment shall not be entitled to a right of reply.
12.13.5 Where an original motion has been displaced by an amendment which has become the substantive motion, the right of reply transfers to the mover of the amendment.
12.13.6 Where the meeting is dealing with a series of amendments, such right shifts likewise to the mover of the amendment that has finally become the substantive motion.
12.14 Decisions of the Chair
12.14.1 The decision of the Chair on all points of order shall be final; subject to there being no motion to suspend this Standing Order.
12.14.2 Prior to the Chair making such a decision, he/she may consult the General Secretary.
12.14.3 If a member disputes a decision of the Chair and proposes a motion to suspend this Standing Order, and this proposal is supported by ten or 10% of those present and voting, whichever is the lesser, the Chair shall temporarily stand down. The Chair shall then be taken by the Past President or President Elect.
12.15 Suspension of Standing Orders
12.15.1 Any one or more of these Standing Orders may be suspended by a resolution of the meeting in relation to a specific item of business of the meeting, provided that
12.16 Special Ballots
12.16.1 An AGM or SGM may, on the recommendation of the National Council or by resolution, direct that a ballot of the members shall be taken on any matter; provided that notice of the proposal has been set on the agenda.
12.16.2 In directing that a ballot shall be taken, a meeting shall have the power to direct:
13.1 The Association may only be dissolved following a ballot agreed by a two thirds majority of those voting.
Region | Local Education Authorities or Districts allocated to regions |
Cumbria & Northumbria | The counties of Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham and Northumberland. The Metropolitan Districts within the county of Tyne & Wear. |
Yorkshire & Humberside | The counties of Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire. The metropolitan districts within the counties of South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire. |
North West England | The counties of Cheshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire and the metropolitan districts within the counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside, and the Isle of Man. |
Wales | Wales |
Midlands | The counties of Hereford & Worcester, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and the metropolitan districts within the county of West Midlands. |
East of England | The counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk. |
South East England | The counties of Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex. |
South West England | The counties of Avon, Berkshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire, and the Channel Islands |
Scotland | Scotland |
Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |
Greater London | The inner London and outer London boroughs and Essex. |
For a list of the 
Principles.
