The panel is jointly run by the Scottish Association of Social Work, the National Social Work Agency, and Social Work Scotland. The panel was created to bring together experienced frontline workers, newly qualified workers, students and policy makers in Government to address the issues affecting social work today. It is an opportunity to influence those policy makers and the future of social work with your experience and knowledge.
Are you a social work professional interested in coaching?
With more understanding of the value of coaching for social workers and various research projects currently looking at the impact of coaching for social workers, this is a hot topic.
We want to develop an international platform for those interested in coaching and social work to come together, share knowledge, and support a movement to demonstrate the effectiveness and need of coaching within social work.
There have been a number of high profile reviews, report and inquiries into child sexual abuse which have highlighted the dearth of knowledge, skills and confidence of the social care workforce in identifying and responding to child sexual abuse. This is unsurprising: For decades, many social workers have received no formal training on child sexual abuse either pre- or post-qualifying, leaving them without the knowledge and resources they need to safeguard and support children and their families.
Join us for our annual UK Social Work Conference for 2026, taking place at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
Our theme this year is "What works in social work: Real Practice, Real Impact."
This one day conference will feature a variety of workshops focusing on practice, leadership and academic research, as well as opportunities to network and engage with our range of exhibitors.
The mindfulness-based social work and self-care (MBSWSC) programme focusses on improving social work practice and self-care. It is a programme which has developed a strong evidence base for its effectiveness at reducing stress, emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation of service users, symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improving well-being and a range of social work practice skills and competencies.
The programme is co-ordinated by BASW and funded by the Office of Social Services, Department of Health.
As mental health services continue to evolve, social workers are working across an increasingly diverse range of delivery models spanning NHS, local authority, Independent and VCSE settings. This webinar will explore how social work values, skills and professional identity remain central to delivering person-centred, rights-based mental health support, regardless of organisational structure or service model.
The idea for this group has organically grown from the BASW Independent Social Worker online FaceBook group, where people have been reaching out within the forum to share information, seek advice and guidance. Showing the need for a platform to discuss the positives and the issues impacting the fostering world. The responses have been very heartfelt and demonstrate the necessity of having a community support group, with a common theme of fostering assessments and the evolution of this work.
Exploring disabled young people’s experiences of sexual well-being in social work practice.
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) Kay McDougall British Journal of Social Work Prize is awarded annually in recognition of an outstanding article published in the British Journal of Social Work. The 2025 prize was awarded to Dr. Ami Goulden for her paper, “‘A lot of social workers don’t seem to understand or realize the harm that they cause’: Disabled young people’s experiences with sexual well-being in social work practice.”
This online forum is for social workers looking for their first employed social work role in England or for those who are looking to return to the profession after a career break. You may also find the session helpful if you have been in the same role for a long time and are now applying for alternative social work jobs.
The forum will bring you together with a facilitator and a small group of social workers with whom you will have chance to:
> Discuss tips on completing online applications
> Develop confidence in online and face to face interviews
We invite SWU and BASW members to attend this online consultation and share your experiences of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the workplace. This session will directly inform our work with the Cross Party Group for Social Work and will focus on listening to what social workers have to say. Book your free place today.
Our aim is to challenge ageism and advocate for more effective social work practice in later life.
Our work includes: • Advocating for social work responses to improve wellbeing through allyship and empowerment • Promoting policy and holistic practice that recognises diversity and intersecting experiences within the ageing population • Promoting social work in later life in education and professional development • Developing and sharing evidence about how social work contributes to positive ageing.
Meet Florence Smith and Jenni Guthrie, authors of The Neurodivergent Social Worker: A Neuroinclusive Guide for Managers, Supervisors and Assessors
Florence and Jenni are multiply neurodivergent social workers who have written a new book aimed specifically at managers, supervisors and assessors who work in social work and social care contexts.