SHADES of BIAS: “When they try to deny us, resist with Shades of Bias!”

Jun 4

By Wayne Reid, Registered Social Worker & Professional Officer at BASW England

In recent years, the social work profession has made declarations of support for anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist practice. However, circular conversations, intensive dialogue, never-ending searches for ‘evidence’ and performative actions ensure that a critical gap persists: a lack of tangible reforms and person-centred support in real-world professional settings. This is the void in which Shades of Bias was conceived - to help move us beyond repetitive rhetoric and towards meaningful action.

In a profession built on values and ethics, social workers often find themselves navigating the culture war minefields of bias - sometimes as victims/survivors, sometimes as observers/witnesses and sometimes (albeit unintentionally), as perpetrators or people responsible. Shades of Bias emerges not as a blunt instrument of blame or guilt, but as a structured, compassionate and forward-thinking innovation for critical thinking and scalable change.

What is Shades of Bias?

Shades of Bias is a pioneering and universal case study framework designed to enable critical reflection on how discrimination, oppression and racism manifests in social work and beyond. It is a simple process for documenting, analysing and addressing instances of bias, whether it is experienced directly, observed/witnessed or perpetrated (by the person/people responsible). Shades of Bias can be used by:

Victims/survivors of discrimination, to articulate their experiences in a therapeutic and structured way
Witnesses and observers, to reflect on incidents of bias they encounter and contribute to ethical practice
Those responsible for bias, to engage in non-punitive reflection, learning, and personal growth

The framework has 3 pathways and one vision. It embraces intersectionality and is underpinned by the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010. Based on anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist values and ethics, Shades of Bias helps to create a culture of accountability, inclusion, self-expression and systemic change.

Whether you are a victim/survivor, witness/observer, or person responsible for bias, Shades of Bias provides a psychologically safe structure to:

Reveal the event or issue
Reflect on its dynamics and impact
Repair through learning, growth and accountability

A philosophical framework for reflection

At its core, Shades of Bias is a conscious rejection of ‘tick-box EDI’ and a bold call for social work to live up to its ethical mandate. It is grounded in anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist values. However, it reaches beyond these to promote dignified empowerment and restorative learning. Shades of Bias is intentionally non-punitive - designed not to shame, but to enable growth, positive change and cultural competence. It recognises that progress depends not just on systems changing, but on individuals reflecting, learning and being brave enough to do better.

Shades of Bias is an adaptable, expansive and multidimensional framework for healing, self-examination and transformation across policy, practice and education. It provides:

A safe space to document injustices and validate lived experiences
A professional development tool that promotes ethical decision-making and inclusive practice
A resource for institutions to use anonymised case studies to promote collective learning and inform organisational change
It is intended for Shades of Bias to become the standardised framework for documenting discrimination and exposing harmful systemic patterns that are often ignored.
Shades of Bias has the following self-explanatory sections:
Case study title
Background and context
Nature of the incident
How was the situation handled?
Reflection and learning
Reflection and learning (for the person/people responsible for bias)

Shades of Bias is available in multiple formats - PDF, Word, and as an online Microsoft Form - and is supported by detailed guidance.

Shades of Bias does not aim to replace regulation or formal policies/procedures - it offers an accessible middle space between silence and escalation. Its aim is to document harm, cultivate learning and disrupt harmful patterns - especially when more formal channels may be unresponsive.

Unlike many reports that merely outline problems or recommend solutions that are not implemented, Shades of Bias is a universal template developed by BASW England members and staff to document, analyse and support people in real-world scenarios.

Origins rooted in lived reality

Shades of Bias was co-developed and co-produced in response to a groundswell of concerns from Black and Global Majority BASW England members. It is the culmination of collective contributions from frontline practitioners and thought leaders from the Black and Ethnic Minority Professionals Symposium (BPS), Professional Capabilities and Development (PC & D) group, Anti Racist Movement (A.R.M), School of Shabs, BASW England and myself. The concerns raised include:

Students facing racism during placements and academic experiences
Practice educators encountering bias in assessment and supervisory contexts
Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSWs) struggling against institutional racism in recruitment, progression, and workplace culture

These concerns were escalated through BASW (British Association of Social Workers) and representations made to key stakeholders and partners, highlighting systemic racism in social work education, early career pathways and relevant regulatory frameworks.
Shades of Bias’s launch is timely. Its development coincided with the publication of The Child Safeguarding Review Panel "It's Silent": Race, racism and safeguarding children report, which highlighted a lack of accountability in addressing racism in safeguarding practices.

Importantly, Shades of Bias is informed by BASW’s Code of Ethics; Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF); the Local Government Association’s Standards for employers of social workers in England; Social Work England’s professional standards and the Social Care Workforce Race and Equality Standards (SC WRES). Also, it is a logical progression from the BASW England ‘Anti-racism in Social Work’ activities across the UK (between 27/05/20 – 26/09/21) report.

Shantel Thomas, founder of the award winning Anti-Racist Movement (A.R.M.), BPS member and key partner said: “Shades of Bias is more than a tool - it's a bold declaration that lived experience matters, and that reflection is the first step towards action. As the A.R.M. collective, we are proud to stand behind this transformative framework, which empowers practitioners not only to reveal and reflect on harm, but to repair and rebuild with integrity. This is how we dismantle racism - from the inside out."

Shabnam Ahmed MBE, founder of School of Shabs, BPS member and key partner said: “Shades of Bias is a transformative tool, powerful for both deep reflection and bold action. It empowers self-agency by giving voice to silenced experiences and challenging the minimisation of racism. True change demands bravery: to recognise that both courage and vulnerability can sit side by side. The discomfort is necessary for accountability. When we face these truths together, change and anti-racism becomes possible.”

More than just a template

Shades of Bias can be used to inform policy, practice and education, as follows:

In policy, it can inform consultation responses and track systemic patterns of discrimination
In practice, it serves as a supervision tool, a CPD mechanism and a reflective journal
In education, it supports students and educators to explore bias meaningfully and sensitively
It encourages multi-level perspectives and multi-disciplinary dialogue
Shades of Bias can be used:
Individually for personal reflection, CPD or supervision
Within teams to address group dynamics and organisational culture
Across institutions as part of safeguarding, HR processes, whistleblowing or reflective learning
The section for people responsible for the bias supports individuals who have engaged in discriminatory, oppressive or racist actions/behaviours whether knowingly or unwittingly. It has a structured, non-punitive approach to reflection, helping individuals to take responsibility, learn and commit to anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices.
The template encourages people responsible for bias to:
Recognise and understand personal biases
Acknowledge and address the harm they have caused
Align themselves with professional ethics and regulatory expectations
Contribute to a culture of self-honesty and transformative change

From seed to systemic

Social workers have shared the benefits of implementing and applying Shades of Bias:

“We all have biases. It's the human condition. Recognising them is what makes the difference.”
“I love the guidance questions under each section because it helps me think and probe further into the situation. By the time I get to the reflection at the end, I have literally torn apart the entire situation and now, allows me to think beyond the situation. The fact that the case study is going to be used to "repair" gives me the motivation to complete this.”
“The ideas are innovative and a pragmatic approach to seeking to achieve change. I can see how I could use it either in my role as a Practice Educator and/or when I take on Anti-Racism within the organisation. The Reveal > Reflect > Repair part is easily relatable too.”
“I do feel it’s really positive and I could completely relate as a neuro diverse Black woman. Thank you I feel it’s a great resource and is easy to understand.”
“I just wanted to say that Shades of Bias is a fantastic and ingenious idea! I am genuinely impressed with the depth and thoughtfulness that has gone into developing this framework.”
“Shades of Bias is a fantastic initiative. This addresses an area often overlooked, as many instances of discrimination, particularly from managers towards social workers, result in disciplinary action but rarely focus on the underlying bias. The burden of proof unfortunately falls on the aggrieved party, who often belongs to the global majority. While this is a positive step, I still believe we need stronger action at the policy level.”

Shades of Bias helps to foster a culture of honesty, humility and hope - centred on the belief that accountability is not an accusation, but a duty of care and professionalism. It is a framework for all levels of the profession - from students and practitioners to senior leaders, from academics to policy influencers. Shades of Bias supports the profession’s evolving need for brave, psychologically safe spaces that honour complexity, intersectionality and human emotions.

What distinguishes Shades of Bias is its belief that transformation starts within. By confronting our blind spots, we move towards integrity and self-awareness. By documenting injustice, we can seed change. By embracing our discomfort, we honour the dignity of others.

Shades of Bias is not a one-off resource. It is a philosophy, a practice and a call to action. If widely adopted, it has the power to humanise systems, reimagine accountability and hardwire social justice into the fabric of social work and beyond. When bias is revealed and reflection is authentic, repair becomes possible.

“When they try to deny us, resist with Shades of Bias!”

‘One world, one race… the human race!’

Download the Shades of Bias case study template and the full suite of materials and templates today at: https://basw.co.uk/shades-bias.

For further enquiries contact: wayne.reid@basw.co.uk.

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