BASW England Student Member Blog | The Importance of Relationships in Social Work Practice
When I began my social work placement, I thought learning theories, legislation, and assessment tools would be the hardest part of becoming a social worker. But what I’ve come to realise is that at the heart of this profession is something much simpler, yet profound – ‘relationships’.
Whether you’re supporting children, families, or adults, social work is, at its core, a human profession. It’s about people - understanding them, walking alongside them, and helping them navigate life’s most difficult moments. And it’s through relationships that we make that possible.
Relationships support change
Most people don’t meet a social worker at the best time in their life. Often, we are introduced during times of crisis, fear, or deep uncertainty. That’s why building trust is so vital. A strong, respectful relationship creates a sense of safety and with that safety comes the space for real, lasting change.
People engage more meaningfully when they feel genuinely seen, heard, and valued. No tool or checklist can substitute the power of being present, curious, and kind.
Trust Is Built
As a student, you might worry about saying the wrong thing or coming across as inexperienced. That’s normal. But what I’ve learned is that being human goes a long way. People respond to realness.
Simple acts are so important; turning up on time, doing what you say you’ll do, listening without assumption are the building blocks of trust. These everyday actions show reliability and care, which are often more meaningful than any formal intervention.
Learn from Others
Our learning doesn’t just come from textbooks or tutors. Some of my most valuable insights have come from relationships with practice educators, supervisors, and colleagues. Being open to feedback, reflecting together, and observing how others engage with the people we work with has shaped me more than I expected.
Collaborative working relationships help you cope. Social work can be emotionally heavy. Knowing you have a team you can turn to makes a real difference (not just for your wellbeing, but for the quality of support you offer to others).
Being professional doesn’t diminish compassion
A lesson I’m still learning is how to balance empathy with professional boundaries. It’s tempting to try and “fix” everything or carry people’s pain. But our role is to support, not rescue. Holding respectful boundaries keeps the focus on empowering the person and protects both you and them in the process.
Boundaries don’t make us cold; they help us stay ethical, clear, and safe in what can be complex and emotional work.
Stay Curious!
Each person we work with brings a unique set of experiences shaped by culture, identity, and context. Building meaningful relationships means enables people to show their whole self and you get to see the whole person, which encourages curiosity and moves away from lazy assumptions. Anti-oppressive practice starts with being aware of your own bias and being willing to listen and learn. Practising in a relationship-based way underpins anti-racist/anti-oppressive practice. Use your reflective supervision to be professionally curious!
As student social workers, we may not always get this right. But what matters is that we are open to challenge and committed to learning how to do better.
The 80-20 Challenge: Time to Reclaim Direct Work
BASW England’s 80-20 campaign calls for a shift in how social workers time is spent. The campaign promotes spending at least 80% on direct relationship-based practice, and no more than 20% on admin. It speaks to what many of us feel: too much of our energy is lost to paperwork, recording, and systems that take us away from people.
As students, we’re in a unique position to advocate for what matters. We can observe what supports or hinders relationship-building and use our voices to call for a culture where meaningful interaction isn’t the exception but, the ‘expectation’.
I’m lucky enough to be undertaking a placement in North Yorkshire, an authority whose practice model explicitly values the power of relationships’
The Strength in Relationships model is used by the Children and Families Service. It is a model that aims to create and empower positive change in families that is sustainable and continues after support services for children and families are no longer needed to be involved. The goal is to create conditions that enable and allow relationships to flourish. You can see our practice model here.
Final Reflections
If I could pass on one message to fellow students, it would be this. Don’t underestimate the value of turning up and being present. Being fully with someone, even for a short moment, can be life-changing for them, and for you.
So yes, learn the law and understand theory (which I can say I thoroughly enjoy). Hone your assessment skills. But never lose sight of what really makes social work powerful - the relationships we build.
Let’s keep pushing for practice that centres around the children, adults and families we work ‘with’ and ‘for’. Because that’s where we make the real difference!
To find out more about needs to be strengthened and what needs to change to enable 80:20 Time for Social Work to become a reality, check out the BASW England 80 20 Campaign webpage for a set of Top Tips resources:
Get Involved
We are keen to collate and share real life examples from providers of social work including local authorities, organisations and individuals who are happy to share models of best practice that increases the direct time social workers spend with children and families. If you have an example you want to share, please complete the MS form linked below:
Share your Real examples of BASW England’s 80:20 Top Tips in practice