The Social Workers Union (SWU) is a registered trade union and organisational member of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).
SWU with 15k members is the only UK trade union for all social workers and is run by people qualified in social work.
Only a trade union can guarantee representation in hearings before an employer. Becoming a member of SWU means you’ll receive guaranteed protection at employer hearings and representation from SWU Trade Union officials.
| Category | Additional cost / monthly |
| Students | + £0.83 / month |
| SWU membership for BASW Working Category members | + £2.50 / month |
Advice & Representation service
BASW works with the Social Workers Union (SWU) to guarantee members the legal entitlement of representation in employers’ hearings.
Our team understand the issues you face and are able to advise and represent you at regulatory councils. Opting in to SWU means you get all the benefits of the trade union alongside BASW, your professional association – all under one roof. To make it easy, you pay one monthly or annual fee and you are signposted to where you need to go. You will have a network working to support you at any time you need it.
SWU Trade Union Officials in the Advice & Representation service work throughout the UK and provide representation at internal hearings for disciplinary and grievance procedures, and employer investigations into practice and misconduct allegations. The team provide professional, swift, practical representation.
If going through a formal employment process, a SWU member has the right to be represented by an Official of a Trade Union of their choice.
- Union Contact training and support to promote membership and activism in workplaces, universities, and beyond.
- Free access to many of the GFTU Education Programme training courses and discounts on professional development courses.
- Funding and support for activism through the SWU Campaign Fund.
- 10% discount on legal fees.
- Free financial health check.
Why choose BASW and SWU?
We believe that by working together BASW and SWU provide the best protection and best advice for social workers. The BASW / SWU Advice & Representation team understand the complexities of the profession, the competing demands placed upon you by your employer, and the Code of Conduct.
We know how difficult it can be working under tremendous pressure to deliver effective services and understand the context in which you work. We use our specialist knowledge to advocate and negotiate on behalf of social workers, both individually and collectively within the trade union movement and with employers.
BASW is not a Trade Union – under section 10 of the Employment Relations Act 1999 a worker has the right to be accompanied by a SWU Trade Union Official. Members of BASW without union membership do not have this right.
