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Social Work History Network

@socwkhistory

Social Work History Network was established in London in 2000. It is an informal network of social workers, academics, historians, archivists and others.

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Latest posts by Social Work History Network @socwkhistory

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Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and USA | King's College London Joint webinar from Social Welfare History Group (USA) and the Social Work History Network (UK)

Upcoming webinar - Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and USA - 20 April 2026 19:30 to 21:00 (BST). Details and booking here:
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/histo...

04.03.2026 12:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Reviews PHYLLIDA PARSLOE; Reviews, The British Journal of Social Work, Volume 1, Issue 1, 1 January 1971, Pages 125, https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjsw.a0

This day in social work history ⏳

1st March 1971: First edition of the British Journal of Social Work (@BJofSW) published. It included a comment on the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, and a book review of β€œMarriage and Mental Handicap”. Available here: academic.oup.com/bjsw/article...

02.03.2026 11:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Social work education review Review by Professor David Croisdale-Appleby, Chair of Skills for Care, makes 22 recommendations to improve social work education.

This day in social work history ⏳

27th February 2014: Just two weeks after the Narey report into social work education is published, another government commissioned report into social work education is published: The Croisdale-Appleby report. www.gov.uk/government/p...

27.02.2026 09:58 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and USA | King's College London Joint webinar from Social Welfare History Group (USA) and the Social Work History Network (UK)

Histories of Compliance & Resistance: Social Workers & Immigration across Europe & USA 🌍
πŸ“… 20 April 2026
πŸ•’ 19:30–21:00
Speakers: Mimi Abramovitz, Cybelle Fox, Emilio J GΓ³mez Ciriano, Patrick Vernon.
All welcome. Details⬇️
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/histo...

14.02.2026 19:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sir Martin Narey: overhauling children’s social work training Sir Martin Narey publishes his report, 'Making the education of social workers consistently effective'.

This day in social work history⏳

13th February 2014: Martin Narey’s controversial report into social work education in England published. 'Making the Education of Social Workers Consistently Effective'. The report was commissioned by Michael Gove. www.gov.uk/government/n...

13.02.2026 11:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and USA | King's College London Joint webinar from Social Welfare History Group (USA) and the Social Work History Network (UK)

"Histories of Compliance and Resistance: Social Workers and Immigration across Europe and USA"
Monday 20 April 2026. Online. All welcome. Now booking.
An international joint webinar from the Social Welfare History Group (USA) and the @socwkhistory.bsky.social (UK).
www.kcl.ac.uk/events/histo...

06.02.2026 18:09 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This day in social work history ⏳

28th January 2003: Victoria Climbie Inquiry report published, led by Lord Laming, tasked with looking into the death of the 8 year old who had been tortured and murdered by her great-aunt and her boyfriend (died February 25, 2000).

28.01.2026 11:15 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Personal reflections from @malcolmp25.bsky.social on our recent event on social work networks, past present and future πŸ‘‡πŸ‘‡

24.01.2026 20:52 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Social Work History, Values and Global Leadership IFSW warmly acknowledges the ongoing work of the Social Work History Network in strengthening the profession’s understanding of its roots and values. The Network continues to play an important role

Social work history, values and global leadership. The IFSW recognises our network's "important role in connecting past struggles, achievements, and ethical foundations with contemporary and future social work practice.
www.ifsw.org/social-work-...

16.01.2026 11:14 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This day in social work history ⏳

15th January 2021: Former teacher Josh MacAlister, now Children's Minister, appointed to chair the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care, dubbed a β€œonce in a generation opportunity to reform systems and services”.

15.01.2026 13:14 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This day in social work history βŒ›

14th January 2022: The National Assessment and Accreditation Scheme for social workers in England officially scrapped, following widespread resistance in the profession, union boycotts, and a cost of more than Β£24m.

14.01.2026 16:47 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Social Work with Unmarried Mothers and Their Children: Learning from the Past This is a social work history with a difference. Written with and by a retired social worker and three former residents of a children’s home in Edinburgh, Scotland, it tells the story of one agency’s ...

NEW BOOK ALERT Based on historical research into soical work by Viv Cree and Bob Mackenzie.

"Social Work with Unmarried Mothers and their Children: Learning from the Past"
www.routledge.com/Social-Work-...

13.01.2026 09:50 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Reflections of a social worker and former chief inspector of social services | Health & Social Care Workforce:

Last year Sir William Utting kindly agreed to become the first Patron of the Social Work History Network, prompting the following reflections:
blogs.kcl.ac.uk/socialcarewo...

12.01.2026 18:30 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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a man drinking from a cup with the words you don 't say ALT: a man drinking from a cup with the words you don 't say

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.

21.12.2025 18:23 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

This day in social work history βŒ›

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.

20.12.2025 15:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

08.12.2025 10:56 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

30.11.2025 18:59 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Children in care regulations consultation 'unlawful', court finds The DfE acted unlawfully in failing to consult parties representing children's rights before amending regulations protecting children in care, judges ruled.

This day in social work historyβŒ›

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...

24.11.2025 10:09 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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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: β€œA Bill will be introduced to improve and rationalise the law governing the care and protection of children”.

22.11.2025 12:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This day in social work history βŒ›

16th November 1989: Children Bill granted Royal Assent, becoming the Children Act 1989.

16.11.2025 19:48 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This day in social work historyβŒ›

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.

15.11.2025 19:46 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

02.11.2025 15:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

01.11.2025 17:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

04.10.2025 08:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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.

01.10.2025 13:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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'A true doyen of social work': the life and influence of Olive Stevenson - Community Care Professors David Howe, June Thoburn and Ray Jones reflect on Olive Stevenson's influence on the social work sector and their careers.

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...

30.09.2025 12:59 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Edith Abbott Image

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...

26.09.2025 14:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn

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...

23.09.2025 15:16 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn

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...

10.09.2025 13:54 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Social Work Networks: Past, Present and Future | King's College London Joe Hanley; James Blewett; Jane Tunstill; June Thoburn

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...

10.09.2025 15:48 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1