National Social Work Week 2024: Celebrating the Profession and Championing Change

National Social Work Week, which runs from Monday 18th to Friday 22nd March 2024 and incorporates World Social Work Day on Tuesday 19th March 2024, is a week dedicated to recognising the vital role social workers play in our communities.

Social Work Week serves as a national platform to educate the public about the complex nature of social work. Often, the profession is misunderstood, with the public perception being they are focused solely on child protection.

Over this week, we talk to different members of our BA (Hons) Social Work teaching team and the partner organisations who support this team and all our students throughout their time with us and then beyond, into their careers.

Social work teaching partnerships

Kicking off the celebrations early were the Bradford Social Work Teaching Partnership, comprised of Bradford Children & Families Trust, The Department of Adult Services at Bradford Council , Bradford College and the University of Bradford. Together, the team launched the week with a recruitment event to talk about the different specialisms and careers available to trainee social workers.

Students from across Bradford College’s BA (Hons) Social Work came to ask questions and find out what steps they need to take once qualified, into employment and how to network with prospective employers.

Gill Ward, Workforce Development Manager at Bradford Children & Families Trust said:

“We are delighted to be part of the World Social Work celebrations.

We are proud of the strong links and relationships we have forged with the College. Within our team, we aim to recruit all students who successfully complete their final placement with us.”

We are hoping to remove the current formal recruitment process, and work with Bradford College students and their Practice Educators so that we can retain the passion and experience within the service.

 Within Bradford Council Adult Services and the Trust, we offer a supportive Assessed & Supported Year in employment programme (ASYE), to ensure our newly qualified social workers are given regular supervision, training opportunities, and the space to reflect on their practice, to give them a good grounding on which to develop their future careers.”

Meet some of the team

“Our teaching partnership with Bradford Metropolitan District Council , Bradford Children and Families Trust and the University of Bradford is at the heart of our success.

This partnership helps us pool our resources and employer contacts, to ensure all our second and third year degree students get a positive work placement across a range of settings.”

Rosie Cooke, Social Work Lecturer and Practice Learning Co-ordinator

“National Social Work Week is a great time to shine the spotlight on social work, which is such an important and rewarding career.

Our Social Work Degree here at Bradford College is both student centred and trauma informed. We offer small cohort numbers, as well as high levels of pastoral support. We have high levels of diversity in each cohort. Social Work is a hard degree, wherever you choose to study it. Here at Bradford College, we want you to do well, enjoy and pass the course, and have a long, rewarding career in social work.”

Sue Harvey, Social Work Lecturer & Programme Lead

Professional body accreditation  

This week also highlights the importance of social work regulation. Social Work England, the official regulator, ensures social workers meet rigorous standards, promoting public safety and professional accountability.

The BA (Hons) Social Work degree at Bradford College is accredited by Social Work England which means graduates will become qualified Social Workers and can register with the professional body.

Look out for our social media channels across the week for more information about the course and the opportunities that it presents to prospective Social Workers.

Study with us

If you’re interested in study Social Work, please visit the website and for enquiries about Social Work placements, contact: [email protected]

You can visit us on Thursday 9^th May 2024 at our Open Evening, book your place now.