SWAN is a network of social work practitioners, academics, students and social welfare service users united in their concern that social work activity is being undermined by managerialism and marketisation, by the stigmatisation of service users and by welfare cuts and restrictions.

SWAN promotes a model of social work and social care practice which is rooted in the value of social justice. This model seeks to advocate alongside, and on behalf of, service users and carers. It values both individual relationship-based practice and collective approaches.

It works towards these objectives through regular conferences and campaigning activities, and to strengthen the radical voice within social work practice, education and wider social policy debates.

SWAN works alongside existing social care, service user and carer organisations, including UNISON and Unite, to promote strong collective organisation and, wherever possible, to campaign jointly.

A new review of Social Work Education and Frontline pilot: significant and worrying developments

The government has announced an independent review on the education of social workers. This seems to be concerned particularly with education in relation to adult service users. See below the official announcement and the links which it provides. David Croisdale-Appleby who is to Chair the review, is Chair of Skills For Care the national organization concerned with the social care workforce. His experience relates to social care rather than social work.

Help SWAN develop a mental health manifesto

You may have seen or heard the furore following the British Psychological Society’s call for a new approach to our understanding of mental health. It was on the front page of the Observer on May 12th and discussed the next day on Radio 4’s Start the Week. The BPS argues that there is no scientific evidence for the diagnosis of psychiatric conditions such as bi-polar disorder or schizophrenia. This raises all sorts of important and difficult issues and resonates with discussions we have been having in SWAN about how we see and work with ‘mental health’.

SWAN Scotland Open Meetings 21 and 23 May - Benefit Cuts, Bedroom Tax

SOCIAL WORK ACTION NETWORK OPEN MEETINGS

BENEFIT CUTS, BEDROOM TAX – WHAT CAN SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL CARE WORKERS DO TO HELP PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF SERVICE USERS AND COMMUNITIES?

Change the course of social work

The next SWAN national conference is the eighth. It takes place in London at London South Bank University University on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th April 2012. We will regularly update the SWAN website with information about speakers and booking. You can find these pages in the Conference 2013 section. Please email SWAN London at swanconf2013 (at) gmail.com if you have questions about the conference; you can book a place at the conference here.

The title of the 2013 SWAN Conference is ‘Defeating the politics of austerity: creating an alternative future.' This is the first time that a national SWAN conference has been held in London and we hope it will be the biggest ever SWAN event. It will link up social workers (in practice, education, research and training), service users and carers, trade unions, user-led groups, anti-cuts organisations, pressure groups, the disabled people and women's movements to unite to defeat the Coalition Government's social policy direction. Just as importantly we will debate, promote and celebrate alternative models and visions of social care.