BASW’s Month of World Social Work Celebrations
Each year, the global social work community comes together to recognise the importance of social work and its values and to promote the invaluable contributions of the profession far and wide.
World Social Work Day itself took place on 19 March, but BASW’s activity extended throughout the month of March. Alongside our popular Amazing Social Workers campaign, which highlights individual and collective achievements in the social work profession UK-wide, we ran an array of varied CPD events catering for all interests, career stages and specialisms. This short blog looks back at each one in turn.
Responding to Domestic Violence & Abuse in Ireland, North & South
Our opening event brought policy, academia and practice together in a unique in-person conference to explore and understand the complexities of domestic abuse from an all-island standpoint.
Focus was given to considering the impacts of intimate partner violence, child to parent violence and working with families, with consideration given to the appropriate social work responses.
BASW’s Overseas Qualified Social Worker Programme launch
We welcomed hundreds of attendees to the official launch of our new CPD programme for social workers who have trained overseas and have moved to work in the UK.
The resource has been co-produced with Durham University, The Hong Kong Social Work Action Network and BASW’s Diaspora Special Interest Group and we were delighted to hear from them all as we presented the programme overview to delegates online.
UK Student Conference
An afternoon dedicated to our amazing student social workers across the UK, this online event was developed by students, for students, enabling conversations and knowledge exchange on cultural complexity in social work.
A mixture of keynote speakers, interactive workshops, panel discussions and opportunities to meet experts by experience and BASW’s Student Ambassadors made for an inspiring and thought-provoking event.
Diaspora Dialogues Conference
Organised by BASW’s Diaspora Special Interest Group and supported by SWU’s Campaign Fund, this hybrid conference shone a well deserved spotlight on the invaluable contributions of overseas qualified social workers in the UK.
The event was a great opportunity to network and make important connections across our UK social work community, while also examining important topics of promoting inclusivity and diversity, enhancing cultural awareness and supporting professional development.
The Value of Connectedness in Communities
BASW England ran a popular online workshop in keeping with this year’s World Social Work Day theme of ‘Beun Vivir- Good Living.’
The discussion broadened out to consider important topics for the social work profession from alternative approaches to services, community-based and relational practice and promoting wellbeing and connectedness to nature both within our profession and with the people we support.
Strengths Based Practice
BASW Cymru took the lead on a fully booked workshop in partnership with Social Care Wales exploring motivational interviewing and strengths-based practice.
They were joined by Professor Donald Forrester and an expert panel to delve into how motivational interviewing can work within a strengths-based approach, which included a rich Q&A discussion with panellists and delegates.
Still We Rise
What is social work’s role in activism and advocating for societal change? Social workers have always been agents of change in individual lives, local communities and wider society.
SASW therefore brought together an expert for this online seminar to consider this question in more detail, while also celebrating the dedication of social workers to campaign for change. We were all left feeling inspired and empowered by this great discussion!
BASW’s Annual Survey Findings
Our final event gave an opportunity to members to hear from BASW CEO, Chair and experts by experience forum on the findings of our recent annual social work survey in this live webinar.
We considered the range of views and experiences being shared with BASW from the profession and engaged in a thoughtful discussion on how this will shape our campaigning and influencing work on behalf of social work in the year ahead.
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Our thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to our events this year. We hope you found the discussions, training and resources of value to your everyday social work practice.
For more information on CPD events and professional development opportunities in BASW, please contact profDE@BASW.co.uk
