Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum terms of reference

Published: 15 July 2024

Contents

Purpose

The purpose of the Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum (ETAF) is to independently provide advice, expertise and challenge to Social Work England on a broader range of issues related to social work education and training, drawing on the experience of a diverse range of social work education stakeholders.

Objective

The Education and Training Advisory Forum will:

• contribute individual and organisational expertise (and the perspective of key stakeholders) on pertinent issues facing social work education, where external guidance and advice would be helpful
• advise on pre-qualification and specialist social work education, alongside broader policy dynamics as appropriate
• work collaboratively to develop and progress specific work streams, for example, practice education (as appropriate)
• liaise with other Social Work England advisory groups as required, including the National Advisory Forum, using their lived and learned experience of social work
• make recommendations to the senior and executive leadership teams, including advice on how the work of Social Work England impacts the education sector, and any unforeseen regulatory risk
• support the development, design, review and implementation of education and training resources
• consult and draw on diverse experiences and stakeholders, as part of its approach
• cascade and share relevant information, as is appropriate to the social work education sector

Membership

Membership is guided by the following principles and practices:

• membership is established through an expressions of interest (EOI) exercise. This is in line with our statement of intent on equality, diversity and inclusion
• the chair of the forum will be an appropriate academic leader with extensive knowledge of education and training (as appointed by Social Work England)
• the forum will appoint a deputy-chair from the membership
• members will indicate whether they are attending to represent their own, sectors or organisational viewpoints
• members may send an appropriate deputy to attend in their absence, with the chair’s approval.
• members serve for up to two years with an option to extend
• matters of the forum are confidential. Any external messaging needs to be agreed by our executive leadership and communications teams
• members must declare conflicts of interest
• the forum is an advisory body. Where the forum cannot reach an agreement, we will refer the issue to Social Work England's executive leadership team for direction and decision-making if required

Reporting lines and meeting arrangements

• the forum chair will report to the head of education programmes. They will report on discussions and any actions or progress on a monthly basis
• the forum will hold meetings every other month online, with one in-person meeting each year at Social Work England (with travel expenses covered, where not already funded)
• we will set the dates for meetings in advance. We will only adjust these based on a business need
• internal stakeholders will attend forum meetings if their line manager agrees to this
• we will take minutes at each meeting and distribute these to membership (and the senior and executive leadership teams) as work in confidence.

Further information

We may amend or modify these terms of reference in writing. We will do this after consulting with the forum and seeking agreement from the senior and executive leadership teams. As a minimum, these terms of reference will be reviewed every 12 months.