BASW Conference 2024 Highlights
It's always special when we can bring the social work community together at BASW Conference.
This year's event was held in Edinburgh, at the iconic Dynamic Earth venue. We welcomed hundreds of delegates across both days, including social workers, students, academics, practice educators, people with lived experience, and many more!
BASW CEO Ruth Allen extended thanks to all:
"My sincere thanks to all who made our conference in Edinburgh a memorable and inspiring event. There was a tremendous buzz throughout the two days. Over 300 social workers, educators, students, experts by experience and other partners came together to explore sustainability in social work from environmental, workforce, research and practice perspectives.
"It was a pleasure to have such diverse contributions in our plenaries and workshops, made possible by the great generosity of over 60 speakers and facilitators. We covered a wide range of topics and ideas, making the links between environmental sustainability and the sustainability of our profession and workforce in these challenging times.
"Just as we should no longer tolerate waste and disregard for the natural world and the eco-systems we rely on, we must find solutions for the poor treatment of social workers and the undermining of wellbeing in the workplace. Care for self, care for others and care for the environment are connected and this was demonstrated throughout the conference.
"Good social work is fundamentally about sustainable human solutions – supporting people to thrive and become or stay as self-determining as possible for as long as possible and tackling inequality and injustice in society. This conference explored how, in the future, we can and should integrate this ethos of good social work with the ethos of protecting and celebrating the natural environment on which we all depend and which can add to our flourishing and to our practices.
"We were able to connect directly with international developments in building 'eco-social work' for the future, hearing from colleagues from the Netherlands leading on the IFSW Europe project to develop and promote practices that can meet the emerging challenges of inequality, climate justice, poverty and conflict which impact us all in different ways in different parts of the world, stoking conflict and forced migration. We were able also to hear directly from young climate activists about the weight of concern about environmental change as well as about their commitment to act. And we were able hear thoughts about the challenge of sustaining the environment, the workforce and the profession from chief government advisors in social work from around the UK, from our Social Workers’ Union General Secretary and from the outgoing President of IFSW Europe.
"It was a stellar line up of contributors in all sorts of ways - and I thank everyone for sustaining approachability and inclusiveness throughout the event.
"We are writing up the event and developing our ideas of sustainability in social work, will reach out to members and partners while doing this, and hope to publish in the early Autumn.
"I look forward to next year when we hope to be in Wales and we hope to have even more of you there."
Conference review
Day One
BASW CEO, Dr Ruth Allen welcomed a packed plenary for our opening speeches of conference.
The findings from BASW’s environmental sustainability & social work survey set the scene for the morning's discussions. We heard an impassioned rallying call from Caroline Hickman from the University of Bath, members of the Climate Child Protection and Safeguarding Team and young people on social work's importance in tackling the climate crisis.
We were also delighted to welcome Josien Hofs, IFSW Europe Lead for eco-social social work, and Professor Richard de Brabander to hear their insights on this subject, including an excellent Q&A with the audience.
Throughout the afternoon, delegates attended a wide-range of workshops all considering our theme of sustainability from different perspectives. From research and practice, to education for sustainable development, social work in health, cultural competence, intergenerational social work, and much more!
In between workshops, delegates were able to meet and network (and enjoy some refreshments) in our exhibitor area. We were pleased to welcome 19 exhibitors from across social work, social care and other related fields to this year's conference. It was inspiring to hear about their work and we hope beneficial to them and delegates that they could connect with each other. Meet our exhibitors here.
Social Work Journalism Awards
For the second year running, we were proud to host an evening ceremony to congratulate the winners of the Social Work Journalism Awards.
The awards form part of a wider campaign from BASW and SWU to improve media representation of social work. Winners from eight categories were celebrated, receiving their awards from members of the judging panel. We also presented a special award to Scottish journalist, Catriona Stewart for her exceptional work raising the profile of the social work profession in the media.
It was wonderful to once again highlight positive reporting of social work across the UK through our awards, and we look forward to receiving even more nominations for next year!
Day Two
The opening plenary sessions for day two took a closer and more focused look at workforce sustainability.
Delegates heard evidence and ideas from a research and practice standpoint from Professor Trish McCulloch from Dundee University, as well as a speech from outgoing Chief Social Worker for Adults in England, Lyn Romeo.
This led into a lively and rich panel discussion on challenges and opportunities for social work, exploring how we improve working conditions and achieve a better support workforce across the UK and Europe. Our panel featured voices from all four UK nations, as well as representation from SWU and IFSW Europe. The full panel was:
- Iona Colvin, Chief Social Work Advisor, Scotland
- Aine Morrison, Chief Social Worker, Northern Ireland
- Jonathan Griffiths, Office of the Chief Social Worker, Wales
- Lyn Romeo, Past Chief Social Worker for Adults, England
- John McGowan, Social Workers Union
- Ana Radulescu, Outgoing President of IFSW Europe and President of the Romanian Association of Social Workers
After lunch, delegates were treated to a wide selection of more workshops and presentations.
There was also a showing of a BASW produced film A Life in Social Work telling the story of Daphne McKenna following her untimely death in 2020 aged 65. The film, part of BASW's Heritage 50th Anniversary Project, celebrated the impact of Daphne's long and inspiring career in social work. The film is co-produced by Daphne's husband, social worker and academic David Morris with his friend and Daphne's former colleague, Marie Diggins.
The full film can be watched here and there's more background to the making of the film here.
Ruth Allen, BASW Chief ExecutiveThis film will help in our work to influence public and media understanding of social work because it reflects so positively on what a dedicated social worker can achieve
The afternoon's programme also included the awarding of the BJSW Kay McDougall Prize 2023 to Dr Paul Shuttleworth for his paper - Recognition of Family Life by Children Living in Kinship Care Arrangements in England.
The BASW Kay McDougall British Journal of Social Work Prize is awarded to the best article, as decided by the BJSW Editorial Board and in agreement with BASW. Congratulations to Paul on this fantastic achievement!
Our closing plenary session was an opportunity for everyone to share reflections on conference, and put forward priorities and next steps for how we can put theory into practice around achieving a sustainable future for social work.
It was a worthwhile moment for delegates to bring together the vast amount of information and discussion from the programme over both days, which included over 40 thought-provoking workshops on a host of topics.
BASW is proud to once again have facilitated a forum for these important discussions to happen through our conference, and we want to keep the conversation going. We all have a crucial role to play in championing social work's voice in climate justice and working to forge a stronger future for social work.
If you haven't already, why not join us? Membership of BASW and SWU opens doors to a host of benefits to support your journey in social work, and provides you with a platform for activism and change. Discover BASW and SWU membership here.
