I’m presenting at this event at 2pm in London on Thursday with @socwkhistory.bsky.social Time travelers have already been, said it was great. Come along... or came along??

Josh MacAlister’s appointment as Children’s Minister isn’t landing well with practitioners, per this @CommunityCare poll. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...

'One in seven practitioners say they will leave social work over registration fee hike' - even if this doesn't come to fruition, that so many SWs are even thinking about giving up their registration and livelihood shows extent of anger at the regulator. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/09/17/o...

Barclays CEO on £10.5m salary wants public sector pay capped, while the bank collaborates with charities like Teach First and Frontline that claim to be supporting those same workers 🙄 www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Great Scott! I’m pleased to be contributing to an event on 25th September at 2pm in London, exploring social work policy networks through a historical lens and with a view towards the future... Dust off your DeLorean and come along!

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...

Curious about Josh MacAlister, the new Junior Minister at the Department for Education, and why his appointment is concerning? Here's a piece I wrote for @northwestbylines.co.uk last year. It's a good place to start: northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/gov...

At the #SWUConference Dr @joehanley.bsky.social reflects on issues that social workers are experiencing, looks at social work workplace activism as it exists in 2025, and asks the fundamental question: should social workers just give up, or can they stand up to the challenges they face?

Great day at the #SWUConference 2025. Lots of solidarity and hope shared from the varied speakers. Thanks to @swu-uk.bsky.social for the invitation to be a lil part of it.

I (& basically everyone) agree that a company like Serco getting the cut-down Teach First contract would be terrible, but they only have the opportunity to bid because Teach First have systematically opened up ITE to private sector for decades. Can't ignore that. www.tes.com/magazine/new...

Thrilled to announce the brilliant keynote speakers for our upcoming SWU Conference - Vivian Okeze-Tirado, Neil Thompson, Tricia Pereira & Godfred Boahen, Gawain Little, and Joe Hanley. All from the world of social work are welcome! Book your FREE place today: swu-union.org.uk/2025/08/swu-...

Not long now! This Saturday I'll be speaking as part of the @swu-uk.bsky.social Conference 2025 in Manchester on solidarity and activism in the social work workplace. Register (free) and come along: swu-union.org.uk/swu-conferen...

I reckon I am biased but I think this list of speakers for the upcoming @swu-uk.bsky.social. Conference on 6th September in Manchester is really superb. Looking forward to the opportunity to talk all things solidarity & activism. More details and booking (free) here: swu-union.org.uk/swu-conference

Really enjoyed being part of the Festival of Politics at the Scottish Parliament last week, talking about how social work can help build stronger communities and a healthier democracy w/ Caroline MacDonald, Vivien Thomson & Fulton McGregor et al. Great to catch a bit of my first Fringe too!

Interesting/important article from Paul Michael Garrett analysing the multiple censures of the Israeli Union of Social Workers (IUSW) by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW). journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Scottish Social Services Council who, like Social Work England, saw a rise in Fitness to Practice referrals, still managed to reduce the length they take to resolve (although still too long). Fees also lower in Scotland. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/15/f...

Interesting stats from @community-care.bsky.social . Just 3 out of 730 referrals to Social Work England by the public end up with removal from the register (0.4%). Compared to 14 of 228 referrals from employers (6%). Those 17 removals equate to 0.016% of SWs. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/14/h...

There have been strong critical sentiments expressed about the Social Worker Awards previously. But I think this is the first time that I have seen someone actually refuse a nomination. I would have thought people would be asked prior to being listed? www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/08/07/s...

On 22nd August I will be taking part in a panel event at the Scottish Parliament as part of the Festival of Politics on the topic of: 'Can social work save communities and democracy?'. Details and booking: festivalofpolitics.citizenticket.co.uk/events/festi...

Grateful and proud to have been asked to present as part of the @swu-uk.bsky.social Conference in Manchester on 6th September (free to attend). The theme is vitally important for the future of social work: Solidarity. Details and booking here: basw.co.uk/events/swu-c...

Labour MP and Teach First ambassador Mark Sewards creates AI version of himself to engage with constituents on his behalf. I'm sure that'll work out well... www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

COASTAL SOCIAL WORKERS WANTED! 🏖️⛵️ We are still looking for social workers (or former SWs) with experience of working in coastal communities in England for our research project. If that's you, please get in touch (or pass on to colleagues). [email protected]

More clear opposition to Social Work England and their fee rise, this time from Principal Social Work (PSW) Networks. The cost of the loss of faith in the regulator will be far greater than anything gained from the fee increase. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/07/29/p...

By ignoring the 96% of respondents against the fee increase, Social Work England has shown what has always been true, its approach to consultation is performative at best. I wrote about this in 2022 (full article open access @AotearoaJ): anzswjournal.nz/anzsw/articl...

Social Work England (justifying the now confirmed fee increase) revert to their usual refrain that silly social workers just don't understand their remit. Making it worse, they say this, and then immediately list a load of ways they step outside that remit when it suits them!

To the surprise of no one, Social Work England have confirmed they are increasing social worker fees to £120. Remind me what was the purpose of the consultation, and the 8,000 respondents who took the time, 96% of whom were against the increase?? www.socialworkengland.org.uk/about/public...

Frontline practitioners, managers & leaders describe ongoing reforms in children's social care, proposed by #MacAlisterReview: "risk laden", "unlikely to work", "risk doing more harm than good" & lack "sufficient grounding in the realities of practice". www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/07/17/o...

Great way to start the day with this discussion from Revolutionary Social Work Podcast and Paul Michael Garrett on dissenting social work, AI and more. youtu.be/8DaNTasoBmk?...

Pays to have friends in high places... "Ministers step in to save Teach First". observer.co.uk/news/politic...

This was a notable decline in attendance since the first annual conference in 1928, a result of the challenges faced by the profession because of the Great Depression that started in 1929. bsky.app/profile/socw...

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.

Sounds like Teach First is getting the Frontline treatment: rebranding, more oversight, emphasis on diversity... In this previous article @robin2399.bsky.social and I argued that these changes were a tacit admission that Frontline had failed. Same can now be said of Teach First.

If charities are finally cutting ties with BCG, as they should, the question becomes what took so long? BCGs record of ethically suspect activity is long & well documented. For those still backing BCG, the question is instead what would it actually take? Frontline, Teach First...

Save the Children suspends all partnership with BCG after being “appalled and deeply disturbed” by revelations of their involvement in Gaza. What about Frontline, the self-described biggest social work charity in UK, who have long maintained close partnership with BCG? www.ft.com/content/6ddd...

"Can social work save communities and democracy?" - I will be taking part in a panel discussion at The Scottish Parliament on 22nd August, as part of the Festival of Politics, alongside Caroline MacDonald, Vivien Thomson & MSP Fulton MacGregor. festivalofpolitics.citizenticket.co.uk/events/festi...

Eileen Munro argues that ongoing reforms, based on the #MacAlisterReview are "very likely to fail" and that professionals are just being "inundated with guidance and rules" From @community-care.bsky.social www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/07/03/m...

WHO ASKED FOR THIS? THE CURIOUS CASE OF READINESS FOR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN ENGLAND Hanley, J. / The British Journal of Social Work #openaccess #socialwork doi.org/10.1093/bjsw...

Of these, Josh MacAlister, Teach First ambassador and Frontline founder, instead of opposing welfare cuts, is acting as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Pat McFadden, government's cheerleader of the cuts. The PPS role is well-known as a fast-track to ministerial position...

Not a single Teach First ambassador MP (I'm aware of) appears on the list challenging the welfare bill. They all also voted to keep the two-child benefit cap and cut winter fuel payments. What happened to the "mission" these ambassadors were supposed to bring wherever they go?

Really enjoyed this most recent podcast from Social Work Sorted (w/Vicki Shelvin) on "Social Work Propaganda". I haven't listened to her in a while, but will definitely be dipping back in, some other very interesting recent episodes catching my eye. www.buzzsprout.com/1926820/epis...

Our research team (@ciaranmmmurphy.bsky.social et al.) are still looking to recruit more social workers and former social workers with experience of working in coastal communities in England. If you are interested, or would like more information, please contact: [email protected].

Social Work England get yet another government bailout due to their inability to get on top of Fitness to Practice cases. Meanwhile social worker pay faces a "lost decade", services remain chronically underfunded, we are threatened with fee increases. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/05/29/s...

The planned 2 year social work induction, replacing the ASYE "is likely to be a deterrent for those who might have thought of employment within local authority children’s services, increasing recruitment difficulties" - Important analysis here from Ray Jones. www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/05/23/r...

"The case law and legal precedents quoted were poor analogies for a social work investigation. I was particularly struck by the reference to the fifth report of the Shipman Inquiry a doctor estimated to have killed more than 200 people over three decades" www.communitycare.co.uk/2025/05/16/r...

Still time to sign up and attend tonight's online discussion on whether social workers are submissive or subversive, and why this question matters. 6:15pm to 7:45pm basw.co.uk/events/socia...

"As an EU citizen whose first two post-qualified social work jobs in the UK would now be considered “low-skilled” it is hard not to feel these developments as an attack on my professional past and it saddens me to think of those who will not be given the same opportunities I was"

"Selling our souls for the best & brightest". With international social care ("low skilled") recruitment again under attack, reposting my article highlighting how the Teach First model undermines professional capacity to challenge developments like this. sites.google.com/sheffield.ac...

One week from today! - Join me for an online discussion organised by @basw-uk.bsky.social West Yorkshire Branch: "Social Worker Identity: Are we submissive or subversive?" Thursday, 15 May 2025 - 6:15pm to 7:45pm basw.co.uk/events/socia...

Social workers across the board continue to rate CPD as the worst employer standard, worse than workloads, wellbeing, supervision... After years of Social Work England's CPD model, Frontline dominating government CPD funding, & constant sidelining of HEIs www.local.gov.uk/publications...

Social Work England Fee Hike: Confirmation that the above inflation rise in registration fees directly reflects the regulator’s ongoing failure to manage fitness to practise cases. We are paying for their failures. www.socialworkengland.org.uk/about/public...