Fifth annual Social Work Week promises free tickets to events with something for everyone

Social Work England has announced their online programme for Social Work Week 2025, with thousands of free tickets now available to book. The week, which will run from Monday 17 to Friday 21 March, promises something for everyone with an interest in social work.

Tickets can be booked on Social Work England’s website for online sessions featuring the latest innovations and challenges in social work. The sessions are aimed at and hosted by social workers, people with lived experience of social work, social work educators and organisations representing different parts of this diverse profession.

The opening session on the future of social work in England, will be delivered by Isabelle Trowler CBE, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families and Sarah McClinton, Chief Social Worker for Adults and Mental Health Social Work and Sally Parker, member of Social Work England’s National Advisory Board.

Session topics include supporting and retaining social workers, childhood trauma, safe and effective practice, social work and ageing, professional identity and social work education. A timely session on artificial intelligence (AI) in social work is also on the programme.

Now in its fifth year, Social Work Week was established by regulator Social Work England to start a national conversation on social work. It brings together everyone with an interest in social work to learn, connect and influence the future of the social work profession. As well as their online programme, Social Work England is encouraging people up and down the country to host their own activities during the week. And as part of this national moment has published a toolkit with ideas and templates to support engagement across the country.

Sarah Blackmore, executive director of professional practice and external engagement at Social Work England, will join the 2 chief social workers for the opening session. She said:

“Social Work Week is now an established moment in the calendar for the social work profession across the UK. We received 59 expressions of interest this year from people wanting to run a session on our programme. We’re encouraging people to book tickets for these sessions as soon as possible and can't wait to see everyone join us.

I believe the week is so popular because it’s designed and hosted by people who work within, and use, social work services. In addition to our national online events, we’re once again encouraging communities, employers, organisations and social workers to embrace the week. We encourage you to be a part of the moment by hosting your own activities and we’re delighted that our sister regulators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also be joining in. Collectively we can amplify how social work impacts positively on society”.

The week is themed around:

• data and insight
• education and training
• innovation
• professional identity
• safe and effective practice

All sessions on Social Work England’s online programme will be held on Microsoft Teams and can be booked individually through Social Work England’s website. Social workers can reflect on the sessions for continuing professional development (CPD) and upload their learning to their online account.

Find out more about Social Work Week and book tickets