Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
Great experience being invited to talk at UC Berkeley about my work on policy networks and governance. Fitting ground to explore resistance and dissent.
November 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Great experience being invited to talk at UC Berkeley about my work on policy networks and governance. Fitting ground to explore resistance and dissent.
Good that the overdue review of Social Work England has finally been launched. Always sceptical of these types of reviews/consultations, but still hope as many social workers as possible give their honest assessment of the regulator's performance.
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
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 5, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Good that the overdue review of Social Work England has finally been launched. Always sceptical of these types of reviews/consultations, but still hope as many social workers as possible give their honest assessment of the regulator's performance.
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
consult.education.gov.uk/independent-...
In honour of Halloween, I'm conjuring up this 2020 (open access) article where we analysed the role of 'hauntology' 💀in neoliberalism and social work. Beware: the ghosts of policies past still linger… 🪦🧌👻
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:45 PM
In honour of Halloween, I'm conjuring up this 2020 (open access) article where we analysed the role of 'hauntology' 💀in neoliberalism and social work. Beware: the ghosts of policies past still linger… 🪦🧌👻
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
Interesting to look back at this article from 2019 when Social Work England launched & the CEO argued their novel approach to Fitness to Practice could prevent fee rises. Fast forward to 2025 & persistent failures in this area now being used to justify fee rises #fromthearchives
October 29, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Interesting to look back at this article from 2019 when Social Work England launched & the CEO argued their novel approach to Fitness to Practice could prevent fee rises. Fast forward to 2025 & persistent failures in this area now being used to justify fee rises #fromthearchives
"Charting a Path for Disaster-Informed Social Work".
New article from our research team on disaster social work CPD. With @dr-nashwa-ismail.bsky.social, @bekahpierre.bsky.social, @gavinmoorghen.bsky.social, Maris Stratulis, Mariam Raja, and Lena Dominelli.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
New article from our research team on disaster social work CPD. With @dr-nashwa-ismail.bsky.social, @bekahpierre.bsky.social, @gavinmoorghen.bsky.social, Maris Stratulis, Mariam Raja, and Lena Dominelli.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Charting a Path for Disaster-Informed Social Work: Developing a Free Online CPD Course in England
This article documents the development of a free-to-access online social work in disasters continuing professional development (CPD) training course in England. The training is contextualized withi...
www.tandfonline.com
October 27, 2025 at 11:47 AM
"Charting a Path for Disaster-Informed Social Work".
New article from our research team on disaster social work CPD. With @dr-nashwa-ismail.bsky.social, @bekahpierre.bsky.social, @gavinmoorghen.bsky.social, Maris Stratulis, Mariam Raja, and Lena Dominelli.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
New article from our research team on disaster social work CPD. With @dr-nashwa-ismail.bsky.social, @bekahpierre.bsky.social, @gavinmoorghen.bsky.social, Maris Stratulis, Mariam Raja, and Lena Dominelli.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Interesting article in @community-care.bsky.social from Robert Templeton arguing that social workers should/would pay more for regulation if Social Work England would just stay in their lane. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/16/s...
'Social work regulation should be independent of government - even if that means higher fees' - Community Care
Social work regulation should not be subject to political priorities, nor should it be involved in promoting the profession, writes Robert Templeton
www.communitycare.co.uk
October 17, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Interesting article in @community-care.bsky.social from Robert Templeton arguing that social workers should/would pay more for regulation if Social Work England would just stay in their lane. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/16/s...
Former Conservative MP Edward Timpson to become next chair of Frontline. Timpson was children's minister when Frontline launched and has been a vocal supporter since. John Timpson previously sat on Frontline board and Timpson Group are a supporter of Frontline.
thefrontline.org.uk/press-releas...
thefrontline.org.uk/press-releas...
Former children’s minister, Edward Timpson CBE KC, announced as new Frontline chair
Former children’s minister Edward Timpson will take on the role of chair of Frontline’s board of trustees in January 2026.
thefrontline.org.uk
October 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Former Conservative MP Edward Timpson to become next chair of Frontline. Timpson was children's minister when Frontline launched and has been a vocal supporter since. John Timpson previously sat on Frontline board and Timpson Group are a supporter of Frontline.
thefrontline.org.uk/press-releas...
thefrontline.org.uk/press-releas...
Reposted by Joe Hanley
We worth a read “I can wholeheartedly recommend this book (…) for those working in education who have been exasperated by Gibb and his buddies for the past 15 years, it will be tragically vindicating to read how little of substance exists behind the man and his reforms.”
👏🏼 @joehanley.bsky.social
👏🏼 @joehanley.bsky.social
"It provides an unparalleled insider account of how the English education system has ended up in such a mess."Very interesting counter-balance by @joehanley.bsky.social to hagiography around Nick Gibb and Cons ed policymaking, urging you to read Mr Gibb's book. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
We worth a read “I can wholeheartedly recommend this book (…) for those working in education who have been exasperated by Gibb and his buddies for the past 15 years, it will be tragically vindicating to read how little of substance exists behind the man and his reforms.”
👏🏼 @joehanley.bsky.social
👏🏼 @joehanley.bsky.social
Reposted by Joe Hanley
"It provides an unparalleled insider account of how the English education system has ended up in such a mess."Very interesting counter-balance by @joehanley.bsky.social to hagiography around Nick Gibb and Cons ed policymaking, urging you to read Mr Gibb's book. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 13, 2025 at 5:19 PM
"It provides an unparalleled insider account of how the English education system has ended up in such a mess."Very interesting counter-balance by @joehanley.bsky.social to hagiography around Nick Gibb and Cons ed policymaking, urging you to read Mr Gibb's book. yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
"Gibb’s apparent Pavlovian response to hearing his favourite words and authors led him to swiftly appoint (often highly inexperienced) people to key positions of influence over the education of England’s millions of children"
My review of Nick Gibb's Reforming Lessons is now available on @yorkshirebylines.co.uk:
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 9:28 AM
"Gibb’s apparent Pavlovian response to hearing his favourite words and authors led him to swiftly appoint (often highly inexperienced) people to key positions of influence over the education of England’s millions of children"
Reposted by Joe Hanley
Thanks to Joe for reading Reforming Lessons, so I don't have to!
My review of Nick Gibb's Reforming Lessons is now available on @yorkshirebylines.co.uk:
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Thanks to Joe for reading Reforming Lessons, so I don't have to!
My review of Nick Gibb's Reforming Lessons is now available on @yorkshirebylines.co.uk:
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
My review of Nick Gibb's Reforming Lessons is now available on @yorkshirebylines.co.uk:
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
"This book unavoidably feels like a desperate attempt by a long-standing minister to safeguard his legacy from the reality of the education system he left behind"
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/news/educati...
Reposted by Joe Hanley
✍️ Gibb it a rest!
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
By Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
By Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
Gibb it a rest! A review of Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
October 10, 2025 at 6:07 AM
✍️ Gibb it a rest!
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
By Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
Nick Gibb’s Reforming Lessons aims to defend his ministerial legacy, but instead reads like a desperate attempt to rewrite England’s education failures
By Joe Hanley
@joehanley.bsky.social
Matt Hood, husband of newly appointed Children's Minister Josh MacAlister, will lead a new “delivery unit” for the Department of Health and Social Care under Wes Streeting. Hood has no experience in the sector as far as I can tell.
schoolsweek.co.uk/matt-hood-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/matt-hood-to...
Matt Hood to lead new health reforms ‘delivery unit’
Oak National Academy founder Matt Hood to run new team under health secretary Wes Streeting to cut hospital waiting times and improve GP access
schoolsweek.co.uk
October 6, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Matt Hood, husband of newly appointed Children's Minister Josh MacAlister, will lead a new “delivery unit” for the Department of Health and Social Care under Wes Streeting. Hood has no experience in the sector as far as I can tell.
schoolsweek.co.uk/matt-hood-to...
schoolsweek.co.uk/matt-hood-to...
"Only 16% of respondents thought [Josh MacAlister] would have a positive impact..."
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/03/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/03/s...
Social workers doubt Josh MacAlister will have positive impact as children's minister - Community Care
As Josh MacAlister assumes responsibility for the care reforms, most social workers report negative or no expectations of his influence
www.communitycare.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
"Only 16% of respondents thought [Josh MacAlister] would have a positive impact..."
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/03/s...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/10/03/s...
Our research team are still looking to interview more social work academics and people involved in employing social workers, with a focus on coastal communities. If that sounds like you it would be great to hear from you. Please contact Ciaran.Murphy@edgehill.ac.uk. More details:
September 29, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Our research team are still looking to interview more social work academics and people involved in employing social workers, with a focus on coastal communities. If that sounds like you it would be great to hear from you. Please contact Ciaran.Murphy@edgehill.ac.uk. More details:
I’m presenting at this event at 2pm in London on Thursday with @socwkhistory.bsky.social
Time travelers have already been, said it was great. Come along... or came along??
Time travelers have already been, said it was great. Come along... or came along??
Still time to register for Thursday's (25 September 2025) event in London: Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future. 14:00 to 16:00. Booking and details here:
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London
Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn
www.kcl.ac.uk
September 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
I’m presenting at this event at 2pm in London on Thursday with @socwkhistory.bsky.social
Time travelers have already been, said it was great. Come along... or came along??
Time travelers have already been, said it was great. Come along... or came along??
Josh MacAlister’s appointment as Children’s Minister isn’t landing well with practitioners, per this @CommunityCare poll.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
September 20, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Josh MacAlister’s appointment as Children’s Minister isn’t landing well with practitioners, per this @CommunityCare poll.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
'One in seven practitioners say they will leave social work over registration fee hike' - even if this doesn't come to fruition, that so many SWs are even thinking about giving up their registration and livelihood shows extent of anger at the regulator.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
One in seven practitioners say they will leave social work over registration fee hike, poll finds - Community Care
Following Social Work England's 33% increase in the annual registration renewal fee, 14% of practitioners say they plan to boycott paying it
www.communitycare.co.uk
September 18, 2025 at 8:36 AM
'One in seven practitioners say they will leave social work over registration fee hike' - even if this doesn't come to fruition, that so many SWs are even thinking about giving up their registration and livelihood shows extent of anger at the regulator.
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...
Barclays CEO on £10.5m salary wants public sector pay capped, while the bank collaborates with charities like Teach First and Frontline that claim to be supporting those same workers 🙄
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Barclays boss urges UK ministers to limit public sector pay rises
TUC says CS Venkatakrishnan has ‘brass neck’ calling for curbs when his pay packet has doubled to £10.5m
www.theguardian.com
September 13, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Barclays CEO on £10.5m salary wants public sector pay capped, while the bank collaborates with charities like Teach First and Frontline that claim to be supporting those same workers 🙄
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Great Scott! I’m pleased to be contributing to an event on 25th September at 2pm in London, exploring social work policy networks through a historical lens and with a view towards the future... Dust off your DeLorean and come along!
Notification of upcoming event from our network: 'Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future'.
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London
Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn
www.kcl.ac.uk
September 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Great Scott! I’m pleased to be contributing to an event on 25th September at 2pm in London, exploring social work policy networks through a historical lens and with a view towards the future... Dust off your DeLorean and come along!
Reposted by Joe Hanley
Notification of upcoming event from our network: 'Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future'.
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London
Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn
www.kcl.ac.uk
September 10, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Notification of upcoming event from our network: 'Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future'.
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Speakers: Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett and June Thoburn. All the Js!
25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 in London. All welcome!
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...
Curious about Josh MacAlister, the new Junior Minister at the Department for Education, and why his appointment is concerning? Here's a piece I wrote for @northwestbylines.co.uk last year. It's a good place to start:
northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/gov...
northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/gov...
The Govian Candidate: Josh MacAlister for Whitehaven and Workington
Joe Hanley exposes the impact of soul mates Conservative Michael Gove and Labour high flyer Josh MacAlister, on government’s social policies
northwestbylines.co.uk
September 7, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Curious about Josh MacAlister, the new Junior Minister at the Department for Education, and why his appointment is concerning? Here's a piece I wrote for @northwestbylines.co.uk last year. It's a good place to start:
northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/gov...
northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/gov...
Reposted by Joe Hanley
At the #SWUConference Dr @joehanley.bsky.social reflects on issues that social workers are experiencing, looks at social work workplace activism as it exists in 2025, and asks the fundamental question: should social workers just give up, or can they stand up to the challenges they face?
September 6, 2025 at 1:34 PM
At the #SWUConference Dr @joehanley.bsky.social reflects on issues that social workers are experiencing, looks at social work workplace activism as it exists in 2025, and asks the fundamental question: should social workers just give up, or can they stand up to the challenges they face?
Great day at the #SWUConference 2025. Lots of solidarity and hope shared from the varied speakers. Thanks to @swu-uk.bsky.social for the invitation to be a lil part of it.
September 6, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Great day at the #SWUConference 2025. Lots of solidarity and hope shared from the varied speakers. Thanks to @swu-uk.bsky.social for the invitation to be a lil part of it.