BASW Launches Big Conversation for Social Work!
BASW Interim CEO, Professor Sam BaronWe want to engage with all our members, future members and key stakeholders who are part of the UK social work landscape.
BASW's Big Conversation is your opportunity to tell us what you think!
Over the next few months, we will be setting up safe spaces for individuals involved in social work across the UK to talk to us, and each other, about the future of our profession and what you need from BASW. It's about:
- Building a modern, dynamic and ambitious BASW fit for the future,
- Connecting the social work community together to meet the challenges we face,
- Setting out a positive and sustainable vision for the social work profession for all of us to work towards across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
We're kicking off The Big Conversation with a survey open to everyone involved in the social work profession, giving you a chance to feedback your views anonymously on your experiences in social work and with BASW.
It only takes 10 - 15 minutes to complete and by taking part you can opt-in to a prize draw to win up to £100 of M&S vouchers!
The survey will stay open until Tuesday, 6 January 2026. Full terms and conditions can be found here.
How else can you get involved?
Other opportunities will be announced in January 2026. These include debate forums, use of focus groups, existing BASW groups and networks, and on social media. We'll also be producing resources for you to facilitate your own discussions with colleagues and then feedback to us directly.
And we’ll be rounding it all off with a Big Conversation event taking place in March for World Social Work Month – watch this space!
Our aim is to have collated all your views by Spring 2026, thus allowing us to then launch our five-year plan based on the findings in June.
Launching today's initiative, BASW Interim CEO, Professor Sam Baron commented:
"This is an exciting moment for all of us involved in social work across the UK to contribute to shaping our profession's future, with BASW playing a leading role in promoting conversations, listening, and acting upon your direction.
"We want to engage with all our members, future members and key stakeholders who are part of the UK social work landscape.
"While we listen all year round, a dedicated initiative such as this is important for bringing our whole profession together and stimulating wider discussion and ideas. This isn’t just about you talking to us, but also to one another. And strengthening our collective voice at a time of change and turbulence for social workers.
"As the UK's largest professional association for social work, BASW is committed to serving our hard working members, championing the profession in all we do, and fighting for a fairer society. The Big Conversation will help us to be even sharper in each of these areas and I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's views over the coming months."
You can keep up-to-date with all activity relating to The Big Conversation on our dedicated website hub here.
