Social Work Links and Learning #136

25 August 2025

Introduction

Quieter week this week but often news and events pick up after the summer. Wishing all a peaceful Bank Holiday (if you have one). For those of you in England, a reminder that renewals season will open with Social Work England on 1 September so if you haven’t logged any CPD yet, time to schedule that in.. your future self will thank you on 30 November!

Photo by Karim MANJRA on Unsplash

Quote of the Week

Blogs and Articles

DoLS referral numbers hit new record but practitioners cut backlog and average case timeframes - Community Care

Creating conducive conditions for relational practice to flourish in our adolescent safeguarding systems - LIIA

Why we don’t know what’s going on in family courts - The Transparency Project

Surrey County Council at fault for failing to consult with parents before reducing daughter’s 1:1 care hours in supported living, and providing incorrect information as to the care plan content - Centre for Adults' Social Care - Analysis, Information and Dispute Resolution

Research Communications Reflections 5 lessons after a year of steering research communications in the care sector - LSE

Notts Healthcare forensic researchers to lead national project to improve collaboration in risk assessments - Institute of Mental Health

What does child empowerment mean today, and what can education systems do to help achieve it? – Parenting for a Digital Future

Policy, Reports and Resources

Mental Capacity Act 2005 - Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, 2023-24 Statistics- NHS England

The role of the DASS and social workers in disaster recovery - ADASS

Building a framework for the ethical use of AI in adult social care - Charity Digital

Protecting adults from scams: top tips - Community Care

Supporting those working directly with people in communities affected by violence - Research in Practice

Audio and Video

Fatigue risk management in health and social care webinar recording (9 August 2024) - Staff safety - Patient Safety Learning - the hub

Family Group Conference with Adults a Training Film - relational activism

Research

The Care-Experienced Graduates' Decision-Making, Choices and Destinations Project: Phase three report - White Rose Research Online

How conversations can empower and involve: Building the evidence for Approved Mental Health Professionals’ communicative practices - Qualitative Social Work

Events and Training

Love, Care and Dignity in Dying at Home: A World Cafe Conversation - University of Westminster - 6 September (this is accessible either in person in London or online)

Social work histories of complicity and resistance - Social Work History Network/KCL - 24 September

Social Work England CPD Requirements Workshop - Social Work England - (only date left with places available is in November so book quickly if you do want to attend!)

Pot Luck

A read

Is ‘Intentional Inflexibility’ The Key To Workplace Productivity? - Forbes

A listen

Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics - BBC Sounds (a fun series that I've been enjoying)

A watch

ask yourself this before you give up on that thing - Tim DeMoss - YouTube