°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ supports and grants recognition to groups of members pursuing specific interests in order to influence policy, promote effective practice and develop members’ careers.Ìý
Find out more about the established UK-wide special interest groups.
If you wish to know more,Ìýplease contact either the email address in the relevant section below, orÌýÌý(°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator).Ìý
Special Interest Groups
Alcohol and other drugs
The Alcohol and other Drugs (AOD) Special Interest Group (SIG) consists of practitioners, managers and academics who come together to share information, promote and develop knowledge, produce resources and consider policy.
The group has produced a range of resources and helpful guidance.Ìý
Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR)
The Project Group on Assisted Reproduction (PROGAR) has a long-standing relationship with °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ. The group includes national experts in this area of social work practice and seeks to influence UK policy in this area, advocate rights of people affected by assisted reproduction and promote effective social work practice.
The Social Work with Romani and Traveller Communities Special Interest Group
The Social Work with Romani and Traveller Communities Special Interest Group
As social workers, we are responsible for championing human rights and challenging oppression and discrimination – the human rights of Romani and Traveller families have been disregarded for too long and Romani and Traveller communities need us to do our job and influence much needed change. The Social Work with Romani and Traveller Communities Special Interest Group has been set up to do just that. It is an opportunity for social workers to come together and stand in solidarity to bring about fairness and justice for Romani and Traveller Communities.
The group is currently Chaired by Doreen Dove and supported by Sian Wilton (°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Cymru).
- So, if this speaks to you and you’re a social worker keen to develop anti-racist social work practice and address the devastating impact of discrimination against Romani and Traveller communities, please get in touch with in the first instance.Ìý
- For more information see: Supporting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities
Diaspora Social Workers Special Interest Group (Diaspora SIG)
The Diaspora SW SIG have members who originate from overseas and currently study or work in the UK. The group celebrates the contributions of diaspora social workers in the UK and promotes their interests within °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ and with otherÌýorganisations. This group welcomes members of all nationalities and allies who support the interests and welfare of diaspora social workers.Ìý
If you wish to know more,Ìýplease contactÌýÌý(°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator) or follow the link above.
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group (NSW SIG)
Supported by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ, ³Ù³ó±ðÌý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Neurodivergent Social Workers Special Interest Group (NSW SIG)Ìýis a SIGÌýfor neurodivergent social workers, and professionals within social care. Ìý
If you are a social worker with neurodivergent traits, come and join us, let’s be the change and make our workplace neuro-inclusive!ÌýThis vibrant, active SIG meets online, usually on MS Teams, on the last Tuesday of every month, 7pm till 8.30pm.Ìý
There is also a sub-group of the SIG set up specifically for ND student, Newly Qualified and ASYE social workers.
If you wish to know more,Ìýplease contactÌýÌý(°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator)Ìýor follow the link above.
UK Jewish Social Workers Group
The UK Jewish Social Workers Group is the first of its kind. It aims to connect Jewish social workers and Jewish people working in the social care sector to discuss antisemitism issues, as well as promote Jewish culture and develop resources for working with Jewish people and communities. Antisemitism is on the rise globally and in the UK, and it can be countered by sharing experiences in a safe space and speaking up as a group.
It is not necessary to be a °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ member to join. However, we are a Special Interest Group led by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ members, and membership in °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ is encouraged to help strengthen our collective action.
Anyone identifying as Jewish, regardless of background, beliefs, politics, or denomination, is welcome. We are a diverse group of intersecting identities that follows the Code of Ethics and strives for inclusion.
Help be the positive change to combat antisemitism and promote Jewish culture. Contact us at jewishsocialwork@gmail.com to join.
³§³Ù²¹³Ù±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù²õÌý
- Open letter from the UK Jewish Social Workers groupÌýin response to the ‘Complaint about °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ podcast October 2021’ Ìý| PSW Magazine | June 2022.
- Statement from the UK Jewish Social Work Group unequivocally condemning the Pogrom on 7th October 2023 by Hamas | October 2023
Ìý
The Student Peer Support Special Interest Group (SPSSIG)
The Student Peer Support Special Interest Group (SPSSIG) offers a monthly online forum, so °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ students and NQSW have a space to connect and network with a wider cohort. The forums will also be a safe place where students and NQSW’s are able to share ideas, knowledge, issues and experiences with peers in a mutually beneficial and supportive environment. If you would like to find out more, send us an email on SPSSIG@baswnetwork.co.uk
Social Work’s Place in Emergencies and Disasters (SPEDI)
According to the United Nations, the intensity and frequency of emergencies and disasters are increasing across both ‘natural’ and (hu)man-made disasters. Its risk reduction agency, the UNISDR is calling for better preparedness and more adaptive responses. The UK as a whole, and within its constituent nations, is no stranger to different types of emergencies and disasters, ranging from collective ones such as terrorism, floods, droughts and extreme weather events, large-scale road incidents to personal traumas experience by individuals.Ìý
SPEDI aims to:
1.ÌýÌýÌýÌýFacilitate the sharing of social work academics’, practitioners’ and service users’ experiences of emergencies and disasters.
2.ÌýÌýÌýÌýRevisit theories, issues, concepts such as risk and resilience, skills, policies and practices prevailing in social work undertaken during emergencies and disasters.
3.ÌýÌýÌýÌýConsider and develop the infrastructures necessary to enhance social work practice in supporting victim-survivors before, during and after disasters at UK-wide, nation-specific and local levels.
4.ÌýÌýÌýÌýDiscuss appropriate forms of support, supervision and self-care necessary for social workers in emergency and disaster situations.
5.ÌýÌýÌýÌýIdentify training needs (qualifying; specialist post-qualifying and CDP levels).
6.ÌýÌýÌýÌýInfluence policy-making and legislation concerning disasters.
7.ÌýÌýÌýÌýPromote understanding of social workers’ roles in disasters by engaging in disseminating materials about social workers’ roles in emergencies and disasters
If you wish to know more,Ìýplease contactÌýÌý(°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance.Ìý
Ìý
Community Social Work (CSW)
Internationally, is not thought to be dead in the water. Nations facing country-wide disasters know they need to support whole communities. It is time for a revival of our collective understanding about what CSW is and what it can achieve. If you have an interest in CSW or have ever used CSW skills, join colleagues at this meeting and be part of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Special Interest group (SIG) so we can trailblaze the way.
If you wish to know more,Ìýplease contactÌýÌý(°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance or follow the link above.
Family Group Conferencing (FGC)
seeks to integrate FGCs into social work practice, research evidence, and publicise the model through events. The group is interested in identifying models of FGCs, which are considered effective by practitioners and are informed by best evidence. To this end, the group also aims to promote research of FGCs through conferences and to seek funding to research effective models.
With a UK-focus, the FGC group was formed by Professor Paul Montgomery, Dr Joan Rappaport, Clio Weissman and Andrew Broome. It has steadily increased membership and profile and now recognises itself as part of a consortium of networks in FGC including Daybreak and the Family Rights Group. ÌýIf you wish to know more, please contact Helen Randle (°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ Policy & Research Team Administrator) in the first instance.
Ìý
Social Work on Ageing (SWA)
The Social Work on Ageing Special Interest Group (SWA SIG)
Are you interested in social work with older people?
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ has set up a UK-wide Special Interest Group to take a lead on issues related to later life, including challenging ageism.
The group will be a social work voice for policy and practice change, alongside older people.
Aims and priorities will be developed by members as we progress.
Please come along to our online meetings:
If you can’t make the dates, please sign up anyway and we will keep you informed about the group.