Section 117 is an enforceable freestanding duty placed on both local social services authorities and NHS commissioners to provide non-chargeable aftercare services to eligible people as defined in the Mental Health Act legislation. This session will explore the challenges and examples of good practice in the provision of Section 117 aftercare.
Neurodivergent Student, NQ and ASYE social workers A sub-group of the NSW SIG
A safe community space for neurodivergent (ND) student social workers, ASYE and newly qualified social workers (NQSW) in the UK.
Please note that this is a safe space for peer support only, and not for CPD purposes. If you are unsure whether you may join this community, please email Helen Randle on policyadmin@basw.co.uk in the first instance. Many thanks.
If you’ve ever wondered about joining a BASW branch, or setting one up, this is the event for you! Join representatives from BASW branches across the country in this fringe event to learn about how branches operate and what they can offer you as a member.
This online forum is for NQSWs, social workers looking for their first employed role in England or a change in role and those looking to return to the profession after a career break.
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.
At the BASW UK conference in June 2025 Hannah Kingsford, practitioner/researcher and Social Worker presented her research paper, “It's just the way it is, if you want to be a social worker.” Exploring burnout and trauma in the social work profession, in which she explored Social Workers’ experience of workplace stress, trauma and burnout across the Social Work profession.
This interactive workshop will be chaired by BASW member Valerie Chopamba. We’ll explore how BASW members and student members have used our new Shades of Bias tool and reflect together on how it can be applied to different forms of discrimination in the workplace and in education.
Other speakers include Pauline Sergeant from the Black Professionals Symposium, Angela Agbala, Chair of the Student & NQSW group, and Jenni Burton from the Professional Capabilities and Development Group.
Join BASW members for an opportunity to spotlight and celebrate the varied and diverse roles that social workers undertake in communities, which play a key part in the prevention agenda. We will be joined by Chief Social Worker for Adults, Sarah McClinton.
We know that the prevention agenda is often referred to in terms of models which divert people from needing statutory services local authority services or NHS services, but today’s session will explore so much more than that.
“Hearing from Practice: Real Talk”, a brand-new monthly series where frontline social workers share honest insights into their roles, challenges, and the moments that make it all worthwhile. This month come along and meet Erin Boyle, a social worker from Inverclyde who will tell you about her role in children's services. No scripts. No sugar-coating. Just real talk from real practitioners. Ask your questions directly and get a genuine glimpse into the day-to-day realities of social work across different fields.
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.
Are you a student or newly qualified social worker? Curious about what the first year in practice really looks like?
Join us for a thought-provoking and practical session with Claire Bracknell and Tracy Chapman, two recent MA Social Work graduates from the University of Derby, as they reflect on their journey through the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
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.
Supported by BASW, the Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group (NSW SIG) is a SIG for neurodivergent social workers, and professionals within social care.
If you are a social worker who is neurodivergent, come and join us, let’s be the change and make our workplace neuro-inclusive! This vibrant, active SIG meets online, usually on MS Teams, on the last Tuesday of every month, 7pm till 8.30pm.
Student and newly qualified Social Workers face a deluge of challenges and pressures during a period of intense learning and challenge. On occasions they may feel isolated or not clear about who they can talk to or where they can seek support.
The purpose of the Forum is to have a safe, comfortable, positive and confidential space for student and newly qualified Social Workers to meet their peers, support each other and to share and explore ideas and experiences.
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.