continuous learning and career progression for social workers

The landscape of social care, legislation, and safeguarding is constantly evolving, making ongoing professional development essential. Embracing learning opportunities not only keeps your practice sharp and compliant with registration standards, but it also opens doors to senior roles and specialised practice.

Here are key UK resources and opportunities tailored for social workers:

1. professional events and conferences.

BASW Annual Conference: The leading national event for social workers across the UK to discuss policy shifts, social justice, and emerging best practices.
community care live: The UK’s largest free learning and networking event for social work and social care professionals, offering sessions on legal updates, leadership, and practice models.

2. online learning and webinars.

Social Work England CPD Resources: Guidance and interactive learning tools designed to help you meet mandatory Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements for re-registration.
Research in Practice (RiP): An invaluable platform offering evidence-informed webinars, practice tools, and research summaries across children's and adult social care.

3. further education and post-qualifying (pq) training.

Post-Qualifying (PQ) Pathways: Specialist modules offered by UK universities, such as the Practice Educator Professional Standards (PEPS) or Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) training.
Master’s in Advanced Social Work: Postgraduate degrees that prepare experienced practitioners for senior leadership, policy, or Principal Social Worker roles.

4. support networks and special interest groups.

BASW Branches and Special Interest Groups (SIGs): Regional networks covering specific practice areas (e.g., Children and Families, Adult Social Care, Mental Health, or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion).
Social Workers Union (SWU) Webinars: Regular sessions covering rights at work, managing workload stress, and professional development.

5. research and practice development.

NIHR School for Social Care Research (SSCR): Offers funding, fellowships, and research outputs to help practitioners integrate research into everyday practice.
Journal of Social Work Practice: A peer-reviewed journal focused on psychodynamic and systemic approaches to social work, helping you stay connected to academic research.

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