This day in social work history ⏳ 21st December 1948: Samuel L Jackson, American actor, activist and former social worker, born in Washington DC. Jackson worked as a social worker for two years in LA after he was suspended from college for activism related to curriculum reform.

This day in social work history ⌛ 20th December 2024: Two former social workers made life peers, joining the House of Lords, after standing down as Labour MPs in the 2024 elections: Steve McCabe and Lyn Brown.

This day in social work history ⏳ 8th December 2008: The head of children's services at Haringey Council, Sharon Shoesmith, fired in the wake of the Baby P case following intervention from Children's Secretary Ed Balls. She would later win an unfair dismissal settlement.

This day in social work history ⏳ 30th November 2020: For the first time, all social workers in England had to register and record CPD evidence with Social Work England. About 5k SWs failed to do this, but due to ongoing pandemic, they were allowed to continue to practise.

This day in social work history⌛ 24th November 2020: Court of Appeal rules that the government acted unlawfully during the Covid-19 pandemic by removing safeguards for children during the first national lockdown, in a case brought by @article_39 www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/11/24/d...

This day in social work history ⏳ 22nd November 1988: Children Bill, what would become the Children Act 1989, announced in the Queen’s Speech to Parliament: “A Bill will be introduced to improve and rationalise the law governing the care and protection of children”.

This day in social work history ⌛ 16th November 1989: Children Bill granted Royal Assent, becoming the Children Act 1989.

This day in social work history⌛ 15th November 2004 - Children Bill granted Royal Assent, becoming the Children Act 2004. This was the day before the 15th anniversary of the Children Act 1989 receiving Royal Assent.

This day in social work history ⏳ 2nd November 2024: Paul Stephenson died (aged 87). Dr Stephenson was known for being the first black social worker in Bristol, and for his civil rights campaigning, including leading the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963.

This day in social work history ⏳ 1st November 2016: Plans for a new specialist social work regulator in England, what would become @socialworkengland.bsky.social, announced. This was just 4 years after the previous specialist regulator, General Social Care Council (GSCC), was shut down.

This day in social work history ⏳ 4th October 2021: Following widespread criticism for not having social worker representation on their board since they were founded, the regulator of social workers in England, Social Work England, finally appoints two registered social workers.

This day in social work history⏳ 1st October 1971: The Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (CCETSW) was established to regulate social work training and education across the UK. It would last until 2001.

This day in social work history ⏳ 30th September 2013: Olive Stevenson, social worker and academic, died. Stevenson was part of Maria Colwell inquiry, and was a founding editor of @BJofSW. See @CommunityCare recent tribute: www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/08/07/a...

This day in social work history ⏳ 26th September 1876: Edith Abbott born in Nebraska, USA. Abbott advocated for social work education at a graduate level, and became the Dean of @UChicagoCrown, the first female dean of any graduate school in the USA. crownschool.uchicago.edu/about/histor...

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...

Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future #swhn @socwkhistory.bsky.social Joe Hanley, Jane Tunstill, James Blewett, June Thoburn 25 September 2025 14:00 to 16:00 All welcome! www.kcl.ac.uk/events/socia...

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...

This day in social work history ⏳ 10th August 2010: Josh MacAlister, now Labour MP, published first proposal for what would become social work fast-track Frontline: “a dedicated social enterprise can meet its goals better than a government department” archive.progressivebritain.org/2010/08/10/c...

This day in social work history ⏳ 9th August 1956: International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) formed and first executive committee elected. Original 12 members: Australia, England, Belgium, France, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland & USA.

This day in social work history ⏳ 1st August 2012: The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) takes over regulatory responsibility for social workers in England from the General Social Care Council (GSCC), abolished as part of the “bonfire of the quangos”.

This day in social work history ⏳ 28th July 1957: Edith Abbott died in Nebraska, USA (age 80). Abbott advocated for social work education at a graduate level, and became the first female dean of any graduate school in the USA (University of Chicago). crownschool.uchicago.edu/about/histor...

This day in social work history ⏳ 26th July 1945: Clement Attlee (1883-1967), former social worker, became Prime Minister of the UK, a position he would hold until 1951 as he oversaw radical domestic reforms. Attlee remained leader of the Labour party until 1955.

This day in social work history ⏳ 24th July 1897: Aviation Pioneer and social worker Amelia Earhart born in Atchison, Kansas USA. Earhart was the first female aviator to fly solo nonstop across the Atlantic. She also worked as a social worker at Denison House in Boston.

#HistNursing 💙 Cicely Saunders Archive is held at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social Archive, you can view the catalogue here archives.kingscollections.org/index.php/k-...

This day in social work history ⏳ 14th July 2005: Cicely Saunders, nurse, social worker, physician and writer, died in Bromley (aged 97). Saunders was the founder of St Christopher’s Hospice, considered to be the first modern hospice.

This day in social work history ⏳ 11th-14th July 1932: The Second Annual Conference of Social Work held in Frankfurt, Germany, attended by 1200 delegates from 34 countries.

One year ago today 📅 9th July 2024: Janet Daby, MP for Lewisham East since 2018, and former fostering social worker, appointed as Minister for Children under the recently elected Labour Government. www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/07/22/f...

This day in social work history⏳ 8-13th July 1928: The first International Conference of Social Work held in Paris, France, involving 5,000 delegates from 42 countries.

Recording & slides from this week's @socwkhistory.bsky.social look back at Sure Start are available via: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-s...

This day in social work history ⏳ 2nd July 1937: Aviation pioneer and social worker Amelia Earhart disappeared over the Pacific. As well as her achievements in aviation, Earhart had also worked as a social worker in Boston, USA.

This day in social work history ⏳ July 2014: Global Definition of Social Work approved by IFSW General Meeting and IASSW General Assembly. Translated into twenty-six languages it is widely recognised as one of the most important contemporary definitions of social work.

This day in social work history ⏳ 21st June 1976 - Campaigner Barbara Robb died in London aged 64. Robb campaigned for rights of older people, founded AGEIS, and was editor of Sans Everything: A Case to Answer (1967), that included chapters and input from social workers.

This day in social work history ⏳ 21st June 2023: Final Report of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services in Northern Ireland, chaired by Professor of Social Work Ray Jones, published, with a total of fifty-three recommendations. www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications...

This day in social work history ⏳ 12th June 1918: Cecily Saunders, nurse, social worker, physician, and writer, born in Barnet. Saunders was the founder of St Christopher’s Hospice, considered to be the first modern hospice.

This day in social work history ⏳ 11th June 1880. Jeanette Rankin, Social Worker, suffragist and the first woman to ever be elected to the USA Congress, born in Missoula County, Montana. Rankin worked as a social worker in San Francisco prior to her political career.

"The Sure Start programme: a crucial chapter in the history of UK family support" - 30 June 2025 14:00 to 16:00 Upcoming Social Work History Network event. Online or in person - @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social, with @carlpurcell.bsky.social @tunstill.bsky.social www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-s...

This day in social work history ⏳ 29th May 1970: Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 becomes law, implementing some of the findings of the Seebohm Report (1968), creating CCETSW and requiring the establishment of social services committees and directors.

This day in social work history⏳ 21st May 1935: Jane Addams, American activist, suffragette, author, and social worker died in Chicago at the age of 74. Sometimes referred to as the “mother of social work”, Addams was the co-founder of Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago.

This day in social work history ⏳ 19th - 22nd May 1966: First ever IFSW regional (European) seminar for social work held in Strasburg, Germany, including representatives from 24 countries. Focus was on learning about social work in other countries.

This day in social work history ⏳ 7th April 2005: Mental Capacity Bill receives Royal Assent becoming the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The legislation would not actually come into force until 2007, when it was gradually introduced (fully introduced by October 1st, 2007).

This day in social work history ⏳ 27th April 2017: Children and Social Work Bill receives royal assent, becoming the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Amongst its many provisions, was the regulatory framework for what would become Social Work England.

This day in social work history ⏳ 24th April 1970 - British Association of Social Workers (@basw-uk.bsky.social) officially formed, combining 8 existing organisations including Association of Child Care Officers, Association of Social Workers, Society of Mental Welfare... 🎂🥳

This day in social work history ⏳ 19th April 1883 - Liverpool Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children founded. This would lead to the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children being founded in 1884, and that would become the @NSPCC in 1889.

This day in social work history ⏳ 15th April 1912 - Campaigner Barbara Robb born in Yorkshire. Robb campaigned for rights of older people, was a founder of AGEIS, and editor of Sans Everything: A Case to Answer (1967), that included chapters and input from social workers.

This day in social work history ⏳ 7th April 2005: Mental Capacity Bill receives Royal Assent and becomes the Mental Capacity Act 2005. It would not come into force until 2007, when it was gradually introduced (fully introduced October 1st, 2007).

This day in social work history ⏳ 3rd April 1974: First edition of Community Care Magazine published, a social work focused news and information source for the UK. The print edition was eventually phased out, and Community Care went entirely online in 2011.

This day in social work history ⏳ 1st April 2009: Care Quality Commission (CQC) took over regulation/inspection of health and social care providers in England. Formed of 3 predecessor organisations: Healthcare Commission, Commission for Social Care Inspection & MHA Commission.

This day in social work history ⏳ 26th March 1950: Martin Short, Canadian actor, born in Ontario. Short completed a degree in social work at McMaster University in 1971, before moving into acting.

16th March 2015: Think Ahead, the social work qualifying programme with a focus on Mental Health, launched in England by Norman Lamb, then Minister for Care and Support, with an initial grant of £1.6m. www.theguardian.com/society/2015...

15th March 2009: Social Worker, and Emmy nominated and Tony winning actor Ron Silver, died in New York (aged 62). Silver was known for many roles including in The West Wing, TimeCop, and Veronica’s closet. Prior to his acting career he worked as a social worker.