Expressions of interest sought for new Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum

Social Work England is seeking expressions of interest for its new Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum by Friday 24 February 2023 at 5pm.

What is the Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum?

The forum will provide an opportunity for social work education stakeholders to meet, share, discuss and act as a critical friend to Social Work England on matters relating to social work education as set out in our approach to social work education and training. The starting point for the forum’s work will be to finalise, enhance and support the implementation of the readiness for professional practice guidance, based upon the findings from our recent consultation.

It will be chaired by Dr Kevin Stone, Associate for Education and Training at Social Work England. Dr Stone is an Associate Professor of Social Work (University of Warwick) and a practising social worker.

These are the forum’s full terms of reference.

Who should apply to join the forum?

• organisations with a strategic interest in pre-registration social work education in England
• individuals with broad experience and an expert knowledge of pre-registration social work education in England
• individuals with lived and learned experience of social work

When is the first meeting?

• date: Thursday 6 April 2023
• time: 11.30am to 3.30pm
• location: Social Work England, 1 North Bank, Blonk Street, Sheffield, S3 8JY

We will provide further details once appointments to the forum have been made.

How do I make an expression of interest?

• please answer the following questions, each in no more than 250 words.
• email your answers to Social Work England at
  educationandtrainingadvisoryforum@socialworkengland.org.uk

The deadline is Friday 24 February 2023 at 5pm.

The expressions of interest will be considered by a panel and we will let you know the outcome of your application after 3 March 2023.

When considering your expression of interest we recommend that you familiarise yourself with:

• our new approach to education and training
• our consultation on developing new guidance on readiness for professional practice 

Questions

1. Please outline what contribution your organisation / or yourself would make to the newly formed Social Work Education and Training Advisory Forum in its function to finalise and enhance the knowledge, skills, and behaviours for readiness for professional practice. Please read our recent consultation on this.
2. Please outline your organisation’s or your own experience of influencing and enhancing social work pre-registration education curriculum and governance.
3. Please outline how your organisation’s, or your own values and principles align to Social Work England’s statement of intent on equality, diversity and inclusion.
4. Please outline how you or your organisation will use appropriate networks to support the implementation of the knowledge, skills, and behaviours for readiness for professional practice.