On the 10.01.2020 the Teaching Partnership held the Return to Social Work event at Bournemouth University and I was very privileged to be part of the day. Representatives from the Dorset, BCP and Wiltshire Council, Unison, Community Care Inform, BU and Social Work England welcomed 30 qualified Social Workers who wanted to come back into practice.
I was able to talk to some very enthusiastic and passionate practitioners who had to leave the profession for a while due to a variety of circumstances. Be it caring for someone in their family, having children or immigrating from another country. But what they all had in common was the urge to come back into practice to support vulnerable adults and children and make positive changes.
Some of them voiced anxieties of ‘getting back into it’ and not being up to date with legislative changes. So it came in handy that my LPC colleague Sarah Reynolds and I were able to share a presentation on Social Work law and recent updates. Practitioners found this really useful and could take away some pointers of future self-directed learning.
Philippa Geddes from Social Work England, the new regulator for the profession, was also in high demand to offer guidance on how practitioners could register again and which learning activities would count as CPD. Her support in one to one discussions was invaluable and enabled practitioners to see what they needed to do.
The individual Local Authorities were able to showcase what they have on offer in terms of placement opportunities to meet CPD for Return to Social Work CPD standards but could also have recruitment conversations. This was really exciting for all involved.
If you have missed the day, but you are hold a Social Work qualification and you would like to return to practice, please feel free to contact Melissa Tettenborn via melissa.tettenborn@bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ The Teaching Partnership via pdwtp@bcpcouncil.gov.uk to get more information.
By Tilia Lenz, Lecturer Practitioner Consultant
