Scottish Association of Social Work

We are delighted to announce our keynote speakers at #SASWConf25 will be Prof Sir John Curtice and Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs.

Our conference is free for SASW members and £48 for non-members. Book your spot now.

Book: basw.co.uk/events/sasw-...

Join our National Standing Committee and help shape the way we work and the future of Scottish social work, all while gaining board-level leadership skills.

Applications from people at all stages of their careers are welcome.

Apply here: buff.ly/sG8jTjq

Former SASW National Director, Alison Bavidge, recognised in the Scottish Parliament as she steps away from full-time work.

Every in SASW/BASW is grateful to Fulton and his team for lodging this motion to recognise Alison's contribution to Scottish Social Work.

Join us for the Cross-Party Group on Social Work in the Scottish Parliament.

This meeting will hear from Children First on Family Group Decision Making and from Palliative Care social workers on the role of social work in palliative care.

Sign-up form: buff.ly/CT24qWq

Financial transparency and profit limitation in children's residential care, consultation response Consultation response from SASW

Our members tell us that the concept of making a profit from vulnerable children in need of care is deeply uncomfortable. In this consultation, we emphasise the need for high-quality care services which have room to grow and develop without accumulating excessive profit.

We were in Parliament on Thursday, backing the RC Psych report on ADHD and autism services. The message is clear: we need a radical rethink of holistic support for people awaiting assessment and those living with a diagnosis. Social workers are crucial to delivering this.

See more: buff.ly/rTVyTey

New blog by SASW member Henry Mathias.

"As well as quantity, there’s also the issue of quality. The public consultation machine is a hungry beast. It eats up the morale as well as the time of individuals and organisations."

Read the blog here:https://buff.ly/mqdTjks

Join us for a new 3-nation student and NQSW event series. Open to all - Free for members.

Register: buff.ly/NBgQudA

The latest Social Work Policy Panel newsletter can now be found here: buff.ly/uUKWZus

Join the next Policy Panel on 7 October, 1200-1300, where we will hear about actions being taken to address racism in social work, through the Anti-racism Action Plan.

Register for FREE: buff.ly/jIxgD91

There is still time to sign our petition for social workers in Scotland to have fair and supportive national terms and conditions. Don't miss the chance to have your voice heard. We will submit the petition in the next few months.
buff.ly/KzVEb7D

Join us for a new 3 nation student event series. Open to all - Free for members.

Register: buff.ly/NBgQudA

🎉 CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF SUPPORTING SOCIAL WORKERS! 🎉

SASW/BASW's Social Work Professional Support Service turned FIVE this month!

Are you a social worker who could benefit from coaching? Or do you know someone who could? Visit www.basw-pss.co.uk to find out more.

NEW DATE!!! NOW 28 October

This meeting will hear from Children First on Family Group Decision Making and from Palliative Care social workers on the role of social work in palliative care.

Anyone interested can request to sign up using the link below.

Sign-up form: forms.office.com/e/KkCWxRjYgh

Join us for '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. No scripts. No sugar-coating. Just real talk from real practitioners.

Book: buff.ly/0wD00xH

Join Alison McGrory, Associate Director of Public Health, NHS Highland, for a workshop exploring how local authority, health and third sector organisations supported community-led activism to improve local health and wellbeing outcomes.

Book: basw.co.uk/sasw-annual-...
#SASWConf25

This interactive session examines the journey from social work student to practitioner, exploring how initial motivations and values meet barriers in practice when faced with system-wide challenges and political constraints.

Book: buff.ly/XsSRTRq

#SASWConf25

Charlie will draw on his experience in designing and delivering support services, lobbying, campaigning, and policy developmen to ask... Can activism drive forward rights-based, inclusive, and equitable social work practice?

Join us online Thursday 20 November

Book: basw.co.uk/events/sasw-...

🎉 CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF SUPPORTING SOCIAL WORKERS! 🎉

Today marks an incredible milestone - BASW's Social Work Professional Support Service turns FIVE!

Are you a social worker who could benefit from coaching? Or do you know someone who could? Visit www.basw-pss.co.uk to find out more.

English language requirements for social workers consultation response SASW's response to a SSSC consultation

Verbal communication is the cornerstone of good social work. Professionals need to be able to understand and communicate clearly with people across their communities.

We recognise the benefits of being bilingual, which can make people even better communicators.

Read our response:

Join the CPG on Social Work on 14 October 1815-2000, online. The Group will discuss a new report from Children First on Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and Palliative Care social work.

Email CPGsocialwork@basw.co.uk to join us for free.

Join our National Standing Committee and help shape the way we work. See more here: buff.ly/sG8jTjq

Free professional coaching and support for any social worker or social work student. Supported by the Scottish Government.

See more: buff.ly/pQqKzlA

Standards for Social Work Education  Pre- and post-qualifying consultation 2025 consultation response SASW response to the SSSC consultation

We regularly hear from students and newly qualified social workers concerned that their training has not prepared them for the reality of social work practice.

Read the response: basw.co.uk/articles/sta...

🚨 Emergency Alert Test: Sun 7 Sept, 3PM

All phones (even on silent) will sound a loud alarm. This may put victim-survivors of domestic abuse with hidden phones at risk.


📣 If you have a concealed phone, you can opt out of the alert here: www.gov.uk/alerts/optin...

Sign the Petition One Deal for Social Work: Campaign for Fair National Conditions for Social Workers

Our manifesto calls on the next Scottish Government to work with partners to implement our One Deal for Social Work campaign asks. Add your name to the petition here: buff.ly/0JaS1Ci

We are at Napier Uni Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Newly Qualified Social Worker Conference “Shaping the future of Scotland’s Social Work Practice.”
 
Hear our own Karin Heber's presentation "From chaos to calm, navigating social work like a pro."

Come and visit us our stand.

The team developing the social work career resource (formerly the Advanced Practice Framework) wants to hear from you about your experience of learning in practice. Use this QR code to get your voice heard.

We are having a great day at the Practice Education in Scotland “Bridging the Gap” conference.

Read our manifesto asks of the next Scottish Government here: buff.ly/z5yi1v3

Join us TODAY for next Social Work Policy Panel to hear how what started as an Advanced Practice Framework for Social Work and is now evolving into a Social Work Career Resource.

Speakers:
Speakers:
Iain Ramsay & Julie Robb, OCSWA

📆 Tuesday 2 September, 1200-1300
🆓 Free
🔗 buff.ly/okLnry0