Something’s off. Increasing numbers of SWU members are concerned about the process for electing the new General Secretary. If you’re a member of SWU, please read, share and consider signing this open letter of complaint regarding the election process. openletter.earth/open-letter-...

Two concrete, actionable pledges from Calum Gallacher, current Assistant General Secretary of the Social Workers Union and candidate for General Secretary in the upcoming election. SWU MEMBERS: Look out for your ballot papers in the post and vote for the change that’s needed! 👏

This. Literally, putting his money where his mouth is. 👏👏👏 Just one among many good reasons to vote for Calum Gallacher for General Secretary of the Social Workers Union.

The election for General Secretary of the only dedicated union for social workers is of immense importance to the future of the profession. Yet, the comms on this has been woefully inadequate, with many members unaware how they can participate. Poor. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

Lovely to see lots of social media posts from the Social Workers Union and BASW showing ‘leaders’ and (paid) ambassadors having a jolly at a Parliamentary reception to ‘celebrate’ social work & World Social Work Day. All paid for by hard working members. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

‼️ Co-editor of Practice: Social Work in Action journal – call for applications ‼️ www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

‼️Important opportunity for members with any concerns or queries regarding the changes at BASW over recent months to ask any questions at this end-of-year Q & A event with the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Interim CEO & members of BASW Council: basw.co.uk/events/basw-...

BASW members! Help us to lead the conversation on AI in Social Work... Join our new member-led group to explore, influence, critique, and innovate around the use of digital tools, data, and emerging technologies in social work. Contact: [email protected]

Very sad to hear of the passing of social worker and activist Angi Naylor, who gave so much of herself, her humour, her unforgettable character, her time and energy to standing up for people and supporting others whenever and wherever she could. Rest well Angi xxx

Resources Review Editor sought for Practice: Social Work in Action journal. Want to build your own networks, develop and promote the research in your field, and be recognised as a leading figure within the academic community? Read on: think.taylorandfrancis.com/editor_recru...

Truly astonishing that other parties, politicians and the media aren’t taking Farage and his ilk to task over the fact that net immigration INCREASED as a direct result of Brexit. Do your homework and challenge this pernicious disinformation. www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Largely unreported by the press, Wes Streeting attended the secretive, invitation-only Bilderberg 2025 summit at which politicians and billionaires met to opaquely and unaccountably discuss things that profoundly affect all of us. Why was he there? www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

They never change unless we make them: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

🔴‘Racists Started Hurling Rocks and Abuse at My Family’: New Deputy Green Leader On His Own Experience of Far Right Hate Mothin Ali, co-deputy leader of the Greens, on being on the receiving end of racist abuse and his ‘disappointment’ in Jeremy Corbyn’s new project bylinetimes.com/2025/09/08/r...

Credit to workers and unions taking a stand against Coventry council’s contract with US spy tech firm Palantir for AI ‘solutions’ in children's services, which the council is now reviewing. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

Once again, reporting on MacAlister and Frontline fails to mention that he co-founded Frontline with Boston Consulting Group - which remains on Frontline’s board - a $multibillion consultancy well known to be involved in deeply unethical activities.… 👇 www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

Coventry council’s decision to use US spy-tech firm Palantir’s AI in social work, Send and children’s services is ALARMING BEYOND BELIEF - here's why... www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-p...

Drawing on timely debates and grounded in empirical evidence, Kalwant Bhopal reveals how #Race continues to shape access to power, opportunity and justice. #WhitePrivilege #CriticalRaceTheory #BLM Publishing next month:

This is a billionaire-funded Tony Blair lobbying project being funnelled unchallenged onto the front page of a national newspaper. 1/

‘AI is here to stay, so we better adopt it’ isn’t a hopeful or empowered position. It’s capitulation in the face of coercion. More hopeful and empowering is to say, ‘let’s slow down on this until we better understand the implications so we can use it well and avoid inadvertent harm’.

The BritCard is xenophobic techno-totalitarianism straight out of the fetid imagination of Morgan McSweeney, the unelected, six-figure salaried 'most powerful man in politics' and his shady Labour Together think tank that has totally captured the PLP.

‘We are a global community of education professionals who refuse the call for generative AI (GenAI) adoption in schools and colleges, and reject the narrative of its inevitability.‘ www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

'AI increases what historian and philosopher Hannah Arendt called “institutional thoughtlessness” – the inability to critique instructions or reflect on consequences.' Implications for social work? thesociologicalreview.org/magazine/jun...

England’s state education system in one cartoon…

The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education has published a case note and some case summaries relating to AI and academic misconduct. What is clear from the note and summaries is that we educators need to get better at a few things... www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

"Since the dawn of devolution in 1999, Wales has proudly positioned itself as a nation that puts children’s rights at the heart of policy. But for too many babies, children, and young people – especially those in need of extra support – that promise remains unfulfilled."

Rachael Cummings from Save the Children: "The situation is absolutely desperate.. this is the worst its ever been.. there is not enough food.. the water is dirty.. there is open sewage in the streets.. there is nowhere safe.. the overcrowding is extreme.. people are exhausted"

Literally, a solution in search of a problem: OpenAI signs deal with UK to find government uses for its models Welcome to the era of business-led public services. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

“The public sector is viewed as one of the most fertile areas for the implementation of AI” Precisely why social work needs to slow down, exercise caution and remain in control, not be led by eye-catching promises of putative benefits from vested interests. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Beam, maker of the Magic Notes AI currently in 100+ LAs, admits that it could actually lead to MORE work and urges SWers to 'challenge the business case put forward by commissioners for using AI.' All while taking public £££ off the back of those business cases. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

'Frontline is a children’s charity. Everything we do aims to make life better for children at risk of harm.' thefrontline.org.uk/who-we-are/ Unless you're a child in Gaza- you don't count and it's fine to keep partnering with an org linked to war crimes against you. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

I get the idea is to provide a light-hearted and accessible take on theory in practice but this is unhelpfully reductionist. Also, the quip that theories are 'helpful... but won't help you find a baby behind a sofa in a crack house' is ill-judged. www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

Is generative AI in social work a 'solution' in search of a problem? www.linkedin.com/posts/christ...

Down The Rabbit Hole Of The Manosphere is just one of over 25 thought-provoking panels at Byline Festival 11-13 July Plus Comedy , Music, Art, Film & Workshops Full programme & tickets (going up soon) bylinefestival.com

Very positive review of Teacher Education in Crisis: The State, the Market and the Universities in England which @joehanley.bsky.social and I have a chapter in: tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.... The whole book available as a free to access e-book here: www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?do...

‘MEE asked BCG whether the firm was involved in the security operations to support Gaza Humanitarian Foundation [and] what role it had played with the foundation. BCG directed MEE to its statement from Thursday which did not answer the questions.’ www.middleeasteye.net/news/ex-cia-...

Boston Consulting Group, key backer of @frontlinesw.bsky.social (Approach Social Work) complicit in war crimes. How long are we going to pretend involvement with BCG doesn’t reflect ill on the profession? Students and staff involved with the scheme need to find their voices on this.

‘I had seen the government’s AI-powered revolution first hand. And it was all hooey.’ Clueless ministers touting AI as the future of this country is a cause for concern and does not reassure that they have thought carefully about the implications of this policy. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Regulate the hell out of all AI applications. The bubble will burst eventually. Lead by actual innovation, not right wing theft programs.

this sort of "language use" is what the "AI is amazing" crowd would point out as evidence of "AI creativity"

Attending the #ECSWR2025 conference and have a proposal to discuss? Find our stand and speak to our editors, Isobel Bainton and Sarah Bird.

Great thread 👇🏽

Potentially more readable version here

"There is scant recognition of the EXTRA WORK and responsibilities AI social work will bring" (my emphasis) - such a valuable point from @realchristiankerr.bsky.social in @basw-uk.bsky.social PSW Mag. Despite promises to the contrary, tech in social work almost always creates more, not less, work.

As Honest Bob Jenrick tours the country repeating far-right conspiracy talking points about “two-tier sentencing”, here is the letter his own government sent to the Sentencing Council last year approving the very Guidelines he now claims are evidence of “two-tier Keir”. The man is a fraud.

I'm sorry not to see anything in there about rewarding civil servants for developing specialist knowledge or actions to reduce departmental turnover. Feels like a wasted opportunity.