°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ

Benefits

Protection, representation and supportÌý

• Protection. Ìý£5 million professional indemnity insurance cover tailored to your social work role and experience level.
• Representation. ÌýAccess °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ/SWU Advice and Representation, a team of qualified social workers for professional/regulatory help. Ìý
• Professional support service. ÌýConfidential 1-1 support and coaching service for social workers and students.Ìý

Build your CPD and best practice

• Training and CPD. Develop your knowledge and skills and carve out your career path with free and discounted CPD.Ìý
• Specialist resources. ÌýAccess policies, resources and practice guides for social work.Ìý
• Events and conferences. ÌýFree and discounted access to leading conferences and events.Ìý
• ´¡±è±è±ô²âÌý°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ’s Code of EthicsÌýto your work placements and uphold the highest professional standards and practice
• Show your commitment to professional practice and use M°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ after your name.

Connect

• Network and connect with like-minded colleagues to discuss practice and share knowledge and ideas.Ìý
• Extend your networks online and offline throughÌýregional branches,Ìýspecial interest groups, events, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Join our community of social workers online – through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Lobby Ìýand influence

• Campaigning. ÌýAdd your voice and influence on what matters in social work today.Ìý
• Enjoy the UK’s only printed social work magazineÌýProfessional Social Work Magazine, delivered directly to your doorÌýÌý

Save

• Benefit from subsidised cost for theÌýSocial Workers Union
• Receive up to 75% off subscriptions to theÌýBritish Journal of Social WorkÌýandÌýPractice: Social Work in ActionÌý
• Discounted books in the

Member benefits for every stage of your career

• Independent social workers.Ìý Enhanced package of professional resources for independent social workers.Ìý
• Student social workers. ÌýDiscounted membership for students and newly qualified social workers.
• Existing members can benefit from a special discounted retired membership rate.
• See membership categories for more detailsÌý

> Claim tax back on your membership subscription

UK tax payers who pay the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ membership fee yourself can claim tax relief on professional association membership subscriptions. You can claim up to four years’ subscription fees. ÌýFind out more on theÌý. If you make aÌýÌýusingÌý, the company will pay £10 to the Social Workers’ Benevolent Trust.Ìý Please be aware °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ is listed asÌýSocial Workers British Association of on the HMRC website. ÌýTerms and conditions apply

Social Workers Union

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ works with the to guarantee members the legal entitlement of representation in employers’ hearings.ÌýÌý

SWU is a trade union with 15k members dedicated to social work professionals and run by social workers.Ìý

Our team understand the issues you face and are able to advise and represent you at regulatory councils.ÌýOpting in to SWU means you get all the benefits of the trade union alongside °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û²éѯ, 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 across a network working to support you at any time you need it. Ìý

• Opt into SWU for discounted membership.Ìý

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.Ìý The teamÌýprovide professional, swift, practical representation.Ìý

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.

Here are just some of the issues we have helped members with recently:

• Disciplinary and grievance procedures, including representation at internal hearings and appeals.
• Issues around discrimination in employment. This is something we can provide advice upon and support you to take action.
• Investigations into professional social work practice and allegations of misconduct.
• Representation at the later stages of the absence management processes.
• Representation through probation and performance processes.
• A range of Social Work Student placement difficulties – including situations where the placement is breaking down or has broken down.
• Representation at Employment tribunals. This will be arranged if our Solicitors assess that the case has a 50% or more chance of success.