Social Work Links and Learning #197
8 February 2026
Introduction
Thanks all for your patience and feedback. I am particularly appreciative of those who suggest entries. We should have Social Work England announcing line up for events for Social Work Week imminently.
Have a good week
Quote of the Week
Blogs and Articles
Dismantling deficit ideology: The problems with prevention - Research in Practice Prevention can reproduce harm: a decolonial critique of deficit narratives, poverty-blame, and “early intervention” agendas.
Care worker arrested for alleged rape of patient at St Andrew’s Healthcare mental health hospital - The Independent Allegations at St Andrew’s raise urgent safeguarding questions about oversight, culture, and inpatient safety
My admission left me more disabled: units must stop ignoring our physical health - NSUN Lived experience perspective on why it is vital to treat physical and mental health together
School failed to probe '130 violent incidents' involving teen's killer - Sky News Independent review finds multiple missed chances to protect Harvey Willgoose before his fatal school stabbing.
Sara Sharif - Ed Yourself. Reflective analysis of the Sara Sharif case, focusing on safeguarding systems, professional judgment, and missed signals.
Carers Week 2026 launches theme ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’ - Care Talk Adding this link in for Carers Week theme in June 2026 so you (and your services) have time to plan ahead for events!
Policy, Reports and Resources
Discrimination, harassment and abuse against Muslim women -Tenth Report of Session 2024–26 - Women and Equalities Committee - UK Parliament Parliamentary report on gendered Islamophobia: how discrimination and abuse restrict Muslim women’s safety, participation, and rights.
Independent Stalking Advocate Statutory Guidance - GOV.UK New statutory guidance defines Independent Stalking Advocates, training expectations, and duties for criminal justice bodies
\Why keeping care homes open matters: lessons from Covid-19 for local authorities and care providers - ADASS COVID showed visiting matters: ADASS on protecting care home openness, rights, and community support in crises
AI Playbook - WMADASS Co-produced AI playbook with lived experience stories and practical guidance for self-management and inclusion.
Mental Capacity Report – February 2025 - 39 Essex Chambers Monthly roundup of MCA/CoP developments: DoLS myth-busting, litigation capacity, neurodiversity guidance, and the Mental Health Act
Changes to the child and family ASYE platform and funding timeline - Skills for Care Note for employers about ASYE changes
30 Patterns of Harm: New Report on the Institutional Racism of the Metropolitan Police - Black Thrive Global Report maps 30 recurring patterns of harm, arguing institutional racism remains embedded in Metropolitan policing practice.
Audio and Video
Overwhelming desires and capacity – in conversation with Dr Joe Gough - Mental Capacity Law and Policy Embedded interview on “overwhelming desire” and what it means for mental capacity assessments in real cases.
Research
Subverting, challenging and working within bureaucratic and managerialist systems: strategies for upholding relationship-based social work practice - Journal of Social Work Practice. Frontline social workers describe strategies to protect relationship-based practice inside bureaucratic, risk-focused, managerial systems.
Neurodiversity and gambling harm: a Rapid Evidence Assessment - Addiction Research and Theory Rapid evidence assessment on neurodiversity and gambling harm, highlighting risks for ADHD/autistic people and support gaps
Events and Training
Anti-racism and Mental Health in Schools E-Learning - Anna Freud Self-guided free e-learning course aimed at education professionals to understand and address impact of racism on mental health in schools.
Pot Luck
A read
The Fact/Opinion Distinction - The Philosophers Magazine Why “facts” and “opinions” aren’t neatly separable — and what that means for public debate and trust.
A listen
The Beast In Me - Ancient Greece And Its Pets - Alex Andreou's Podyssey. Did Ancient Greeks keep pets? Asking the important questions.
A watch
Why This Olympic Sport Bothers Physicists - Cleo Abram Learning Curling - in preparation for Winter Olympics