Guest Profile: Biju Antony
Biju Antony is currently a Service Manager for mental health services with an NHS Trust. With over 20 years of experience in the UK, he has worked as a Qualified Mental Health Social Worker and Practitioner, AMHP (Approved Mental Health Professional), and Care Coordinator within mental health settings, as well as holding various management roles. He is originally from Kerala, India, and moved to the UK in 2005. Additionally, Biju serves as the Chair of the UK Malayalee Social Workers (UKMSW) Forum, an association of over 200 professional social workers from Kerala working in the UK.
Episode Summary
In this episode of How Does Social Work?, hosts Colleen Simon and Yohai Hak explore the intersection of culture, identity, and social care through Biju Antony’s lived experience. The conversation covers Biju's migration from Kerala to the UK during the recruitment drives of the early 2000s and the significant cultural adjustments required to practice social work in a new country.Key themes include:
• Cultural Differences: The contrast between the "collectivistic" culture of India - where family and community often take precedence over the state in providing care - and the UK's individualistic, state-focused social care system.
• Professional Challenges: The hurdles international social workers face, such as language barriers, understanding different communication styles (e.g., indirect vs. direct), and navigating flat hierarchies compared to the authoritative structures common in India.
• Community Support: The origins and mission of the UKMSW Forum, which was established to provide peer support, training, and recruitment guidance to social workers migrating from India, helping them adapt to the UK legal frameworks and practice standards.
