Beti Jones (1919-2006) was a Scottish social worker. She was awarded
Commander of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations,
and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...
(CBE), and transformed the Scottish legal system pertaining to children. She was the first
social work
Social work is an academic discipline and practice-based profession concerned with meeting the basic needs of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society as a whole to enhance their individual and collective well-being. Social work ...
officer in Scotland and she established the first hearing system for children.
Early life
Beti Jones was born in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
.
She was the first woman in her family to attend university at the
University of Wales. She achieved a BA in History.
Career
She taught for two years. From 1943-1949, she was South Wales Organiser for the National Association of Girls’ Clubs.
During the Second World War she helped refugees in Germany, and worked as a youth Education Officer for the Allied Control Commission for two years. Before settling in Scotland, she worked as Children’s Officer (1949-1968) and she was well known for her humanity.
In 1968, she became the first women Chief Adviser on Social Work for the
Scottish Office. Throughout her career, she improved the child court system. Instead of attending adult courts, children got special panels of non lawyers.
This system of hearings is used in Scotland and spread around the world.
She aimed to promote community service, encouraging psychiatric support in the community.
In the
Aberfan disaster when a coal mine
slag heap
A spoil tip (also called a boney pile, culm bank, gob pile, waste tip or bing) is a pile built of accumulated ''spoil'' – waste material removed during mining. These waste materials are typically composed of shale, as well as smaller quant ...
destroyed a primary school, she was one of the first responders helping affected families.
She provided intensive training for senior civil servants.
Jones worked to enhance child welfare in the UK with the
Child Poverty Action Group.
She was a manager of social work and was recognized as a Commander British Empire (CBE).
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Beti
British social workers
1919 births
2006 deaths