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.
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.
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.
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.
Next meeting of the CSW SIG is on 10th February 2026, starting at 6.30pm.
Internationally, Community-based Social Work (CSW) is definitely NOT dead in the water.
Nations facing country-wide disasters know they need to support whole communities. It is time for a revival of our collective understanding about what CSW is and what it can achieve.
If you have an interest in CSW or have ever used CSW skills, join colleagues at this meeting and be part of the BASW Special Interest Group (SIG).
Type of work and clients:
Complaints, Advocacy, Coaching / mentoring of parents (families), Coaching / mentoring of social workers, Compliance, Court assessments, Direct work with families and carers, Family assessment, Supervision, Training and tutoring, Universities / learning & training bodies
Professional registrations:
Social Work England
Skills include:
Writing specialist assessment (Form F, Special Guardianship, Risk, Parenting), training design and delivery, case audits.
Join us for this celebratory event which looks at how the Capabilities Statements and the accompanying toolkit resources, for Social Work with Autistic People and People with Learning Disabilities, have been used to support practice over the last five years.
Background
• The Department for Health and Social care commissioned the development of the Capabilities Statements for social work with people with learning disabilities and social work with autistic people in recognition that there has never been any national guidance for social workers practising in this area.
Join this North Yorkshire branch event open to students and social workers, BASW members and non-members from across the region to find out
Speaker: Julie-Ann Ellenor
Topic: Health and wellbeing provision can help create positive environments where individuals and organisations can thrive.
The interactive workshop will explore: • The importance of wellbeing. • Show how you can support your own and others wellbeing. • Consider how measuring your personal resilience and taking positive action can improve your wellbeing.
Type of work and clients:
Coaching / mentoring of parents (families), Coaching / mentoring of social workers, Court assessments, Direct work with families and carers, Direct work with service users, Expert witness, Family assessment, Government offices, Inspection, Inter-agency working, Local authority departments, Placements, Private / independent sector, Quality assurance, Supervision
Professional registrations:
Social Work England
Skills include:
Dedicated social care leader skilled in safeguarding, complex assessments, court work and QA. Proven in risk management, multi-agency partnership and driving high-quality, child-focused outcomes.
BASW Independents Local Networks provide an excellent opportunity to build professional links with other self-employed social workers in your area. These meetings are currently virtual and held on MS Teams.
This group meets on the 3rd Friday of every month. BASW Independents Local Networks provide a space to create and nurture valuable professional links with other self-employed social workers in your region.
These informal meetings are fully member-led and supported centrally by BASW, with the opportunity to share hot topics and collaborate on wider activities.