Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
We (Open University) are seeking an External Examiner for our Undergraduate Social Work Law Module (Degree and Degree Apprenticeship). 📚⚖️ If interested or if you want more info, get in touch: helen.casey@open.ac.uk / jeanette.copperman@open.ac.uk
February 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
We (Open University) are seeking an External Examiner for our Undergraduate Social Work Law Module (Degree and Degree Apprenticeship). 📚⚖️ If interested or if you want more info, get in touch: helen.casey@open.ac.uk / jeanette.copperman@open.ac.uk
Social Work England raising more income from practitioner fees than anticipated from @community-care.bsky.social
www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...
www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...
Social Work England raising more income from practitioner fees than anticipated - Community Care
Fee income 2% higher than expected after hike in charges did not prevent more social workers renewing registration
www.communitycare.co.uk
February 14, 2026 at 8:02 PM
Social Work England raising more income from practitioner fees than anticipated from @community-care.bsky.social
www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...
www.communitycare.co.uk/content/news...
New article via @basw-uk.bsky.social from James Blewett raising questions about the reforms coming through children's services: "While the aspirations are both laudable and necessary, they risk being undermined by a lack of sufficient funding and evaluation".
new.basw.co.uk/about-social...
new.basw.co.uk/about-social...
Four challenges facing England’s children’s social care reforms
James Blewett, vice chair of the BASW children’s and families group, responds to government’s plans
new.basw.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 11:16 AM
New article via @basw-uk.bsky.social from James Blewett raising questions about the reforms coming through children's services: "While the aspirations are both laudable and necessary, they risk being undermined by a lack of sufficient funding and evaluation".
new.basw.co.uk/about-social...
new.basw.co.uk/about-social...
Important principled stance here from Sarah Anderson. "This was not a refusal to engage; it was a judgment on the effectiveness and credibility of the proposed engagement"
fosterwiki.com/why-i-turned...
fosterwiki.com/why-i-turned...
February 12, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Important principled stance here from Sarah Anderson. "This was not a refusal to engage; it was a judgment on the effectiveness and credibility of the proposed engagement"
fosterwiki.com/why-i-turned...
fosterwiki.com/why-i-turned...
Interesting opportunity for any social workers (or safeguarding professionals) looking for something a bit different: Safeguarding Officer with Imperial Outreach and Global Summer School teams. Full details:
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
Description
Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...
www.imperial.ac.uk
February 11, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Interesting opportunity for any social workers (or safeguarding professionals) looking for something a bit different: Safeguarding Officer with Imperial Outreach and Global Summer School teams. Full details:
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...
After 11 years frozen, we finally get a consultation on the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant; but of course it’s just rearranging deckchairs. No new money, no parity across routes. Missing the point.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Proposed changes to the Social Work Bursary and the Education Support Grant
Consultation seeking views on proposed reforms to the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant in England.
www.gov.uk
February 6, 2026 at 6:32 PM
After 11 years frozen, we finally get a consultation on the Social Work Bursary and Education Support Grant; but of course it’s just rearranging deckchairs. No new money, no parity across routes. Missing the point.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Disappointing apprenticeship data: higher dropouts for lower socio-economic and global majority groups. But the 50%+ dropout rates across the board suggest a system isn’t really working for anyone. feweek.co.uk/disadvantage...
January 29, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Disappointing apprenticeship data: higher dropouts for lower socio-economic and global majority groups. But the 50%+ dropout rates across the board suggest a system isn’t really working for anyone. feweek.co.uk/disadvantage...
OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENT FROM CHILD PROTECTION PROFESSIONALS organised by @ciaranmmmurphy.bsky.social 👇👇👇
A call to all UK child protection professionals. If you are in favour of a ban on smartphones in school (given the hugely detrimental impact they are having on our children), please sign this open letter to the Prime Minister calling for a statutory ban: www.generationfocus.org/open-letter-...
Open letter to government from child protection professionals – Generation Focus
www.generationfocus.org
January 26, 2026 at 4:53 PM
OPEN LETTER TO GOVERNMENT FROM CHILD PROTECTION PROFESSIONALS organised by @ciaranmmmurphy.bsky.social 👇👇👇
Grateful to @malcolmp25.bsky.social for this thoughtful write-up of our recent @socwkhistory.bsky.social event on networks in social work. Really enjoyed the conversation with @jthobu.bsky.social, Jane Tunstill, James Blewitt and everyone in attendance.
January 24, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Grateful to @malcolmp25.bsky.social for this thoughtful write-up of our recent @socwkhistory.bsky.social event on networks in social work. Really enjoyed the conversation with @jthobu.bsky.social, Jane Tunstill, James Blewitt and everyone in attendance.
Social Work England pausing changes to education standards, including KSBs. As I argued below, these changes weren’t needed and risk damage. But pausing them now is another slap in the face for HEIs already planning, particularly around apprenticeships.
academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...
academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...
Who asked for this? The curious case of Readiness for Professional Practice in England
This article examines the plans for a proposed new framework for students who are studying to become social workers in England. The framework is called Rea
academic.oup.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Social Work England pausing changes to education standards, including KSBs. As I argued below, these changes weren’t needed and risk damage. But pausing them now is another slap in the face for HEIs already planning, particularly around apprenticeships.
academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...
academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...
French competition watchdog raids offices of Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, all partners of Teach First and/or its spinoffs in England (Frontline, Think Ahead, Unlocked, Police Now). These firms should be no where near our public professions.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
French watchdog raids auditing firms as part of antitrust probe
France's competition watchdog has raided auditing firms as part of an anti-trust investigation, it said on Wednesday, while La Lettre financial publication said the "Big Four" firms Deloitte, KPMG, EY...
www.reuters.com
January 17, 2026 at 9:04 AM
French competition watchdog raids offices of Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, all partners of Teach First and/or its spinoffs in England (Frontline, Think Ahead, Unlocked, Police Now). These firms should be no where near our public professions.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Really powerful article from @yohaihakak.bsky.social in CRSW: "There are no easy answers, but this much is clear: silence is not care, weapons are not compassion, and justice cannot be built on denial or fear".
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com
January 16, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Really powerful article from @yohaihakak.bsky.social in CRSW: "There are no easy answers, but this much is clear: silence is not care, weapons are not compassion, and justice cannot be built on denial or fear".
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
Michael Gove predicts a big year for Children's Minister Josh MacAlister within Labour Government, praising him and noting his close association with Wes Streeting. Interesting Gove fails to mention his own close association with MacAlister...
youtu.be/V0t6FjAvevA?...
youtu.be/V0t6FjAvevA?...
A Labour rebellion is coming – can Starmer survive? | Quite right!
YouTube video by The Spectator
youtu.be
January 10, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Michael Gove predicts a big year for Children's Minister Josh MacAlister within Labour Government, praising him and noting his close association with Wes Streeting. Interesting Gove fails to mention his own close association with MacAlister...
youtu.be/V0t6FjAvevA?...
youtu.be/V0t6FjAvevA?...
Lib Dems propose a £60m-a-year “Farm First” scheme to get graduates into farming, modelled on Teach First, despite that model failing to improve any profession it’s been tried in thus far... 😭
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Lib Dems call for farming equivalent of Teach First scheme
The party warns the country is facing a
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Lib Dems propose a £60m-a-year “Farm First” scheme to get graduates into farming, modelled on Teach First, despite that model failing to improve any profession it’s been tried in thus far... 😭
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Motivational Interviewing risks becoming a conduit for the neoliberal values of autonomy and responsibility echoed in the words of Michael Gove' - Powerful new article from Nina Kyriacou & @henrytsmith.bsky.social reflecting on use of MI in SW.
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM
'Motivational Interviewing risks becoming a conduit for the neoliberal values of autonomy and responsibility echoed in the words of Michael Gove' - Powerful new article from Nina Kyriacou & @henrytsmith.bsky.social reflecting on use of MI in SW.
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journal...
Very positive report from Social Work England out today: qualifying social work education performing really strongly despite big challenges. Makes it all the more puzzling that they still plan to plow ahead with disruptive reforms to the sector (KSBs/RDP) www.socialworkengland.org.uk/about/public...
Preparing for practice: social work education in England - Social Work England
www.socialworkengland.org.uk
November 27, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Very positive report from Social Work England out today: qualifying social work education performing really strongly despite big challenges. Makes it all the more puzzling that they still plan to plow ahead with disruptive reforms to the sector (KSBs/RDP) www.socialworkengland.org.uk/about/public...
Probably the biggest influence accelerating social worker familiarity with AI tools like ChatGPT is the Social Work England CPD process. It is not fit for purpose.
a robot with the number 11 on its back
ALT: a robot with the number 11 on its back
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Probably the biggest influence accelerating social worker familiarity with AI tools like ChatGPT is the Social Work England CPD process. It is not fit for purpose.
I recently joined the Foster Care Uncovered podcast to discuss policy networks and their impact on children’s social care with @sarahatfosterwiki.bsky.social and Louise Allen. An important conversation Im glad we could have. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/44Oj...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:21 PM
I recently joined the Foster Care Uncovered podcast to discuss policy networks and their impact on children’s social care with @sarahatfosterwiki.bsky.social and Louise Allen. An important conversation Im glad we could have. Listen here: open.spotify.com/episode/44Oj...
Reposted by Joe Hanley
A reminder that the consultation for the Government Review of @socialworkengland.bsky.social finishes on 26th November www.gov.uk/government/g...
November 19, 2025 at 9:26 PM
A reminder that the consultation for the Government Review of @socialworkengland.bsky.social finishes on 26th November www.gov.uk/government/g...
DID YOU KNOW? Social work academics get different questions to 'practising social workers' in the Social Work England review consultation! You’re forced to pick one role, even though many overlap, and choosing “academic” skips major sections, including everything on registration. A🧵1/5.
November 23, 2025 at 11:40 AM
DID YOU KNOW? Social work academics get different questions to 'practising social workers' in the Social Work England review consultation! You’re forced to pick one role, even though many overlap, and choosing “academic” skips major sections, including everything on registration. A🧵1/5.
Social Work England’s fitness-to-practise failures keep piling up, with social workers paying the price. Now its 9 months just to go through triage stage, despite 85% leading to no further action, and 4.3 years(!) to get an outcome from hearing stage.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/19/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/19/s...
Social Work England to miss fitness to practise targets - Community Care
Regulator has received 29% more concerns about social workers this year than last, undermining drive to tackle fitness to practise delays
www.communitycare.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Social Work England’s fitness-to-practise failures keep piling up, with social workers paying the price. Now its 9 months just to go through triage stage, despite 85% leading to no further action, and 4.3 years(!) to get an outcome from hearing stage.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/19/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/11/19/s...
Check out the first episode of Foster Care Uncovered, the new podcast from @sarahatfosterwiki.bsky.social and Louise Allen - "The stories behind the headlines, the truths behind the system - exposing, confronting, and moving foster care forward." 👏 👍
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...
Foster Care Uncovered
Podcast Episode · Foster Care Uncovered · 17/11/2025 · 46m
podcasts.apple.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Check out the first episode of Foster Care Uncovered, the new podcast from @sarahatfosterwiki.bsky.social and Louise Allen - "The stories behind the headlines, the truths behind the system - exposing, confronting, and moving foster care forward." 👏 👍
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f...
Degree apprenticeships less accessible to disadvantaged young people than Russell Group unis" - really disapointing findings.
As I've said before we shouldn't let hope for what apprenticeships should be blind us from reality of what they currently are.
feweek.co.uk/degree-appre...
As I've said before we shouldn't let hope for what apprenticeships should be blind us from reality of what they currently are.
feweek.co.uk/degree-appre...
Degree apprenticeships less accessible to disadvantaged young people than Russell Group unis
Research reignites warnings that the route risks becoming 'another middle-class preserve'
feweek.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Degree apprenticeships less accessible to disadvantaged young people than Russell Group unis" - really disapointing findings.
As I've said before we shouldn't let hope for what apprenticeships should be blind us from reality of what they currently are.
feweek.co.uk/degree-appre...
As I've said before we shouldn't let hope for what apprenticeships should be blind us from reality of what they currently are.
feweek.co.uk/degree-appre...
Published today, 'Social Work Professional Organizations: A Comparative International Perspective' from @policypress.bsky.social.
Includes a chapter about @basw-uk.bsky.social from David Jones, Bridget Robb and me. Aailable here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-work-...
Includes a chapter about @basw-uk.bsky.social from David Jones, Bridget Robb and me. Aailable here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-work-...
Social Work Professional Organizations
Social Work Professional Organizations - A Comparative International Perspective; Using an interdisciplinary framework, this edited volume provides the first comprehensive, comparative analysis of soc...
policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Published today, 'Social Work Professional Organizations: A Comparative International Perspective' from @policypress.bsky.social.
Includes a chapter about @basw-uk.bsky.social from David Jones, Bridget Robb and me. Aailable here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-work-...
Includes a chapter about @basw-uk.bsky.social from David Jones, Bridget Robb and me. Aailable here: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/social-work-...
Social workers - make sure you complete the Social Work England review survey. Last time, 96% opposed the fee rise, but they said the sample was too small.
Don't give them that excuse again...
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
Don't give them that excuse again...
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
Independent review for social work regulation: call for evidence
- Department for Education
- Citizen Space
Find and participate in consultations run by the Department for Education
consult.education.gov.uk
November 13, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Social workers - make sure you complete the Social Work England review survey. Last time, 96% opposed the fee rise, but they said the sample was too small.
Don't give them that excuse again...
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
Don't give them that excuse again...
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
