Social work in your area

The next SWAN meeting dates and arrangements are:

• Wednesday 30 September 2026 | 10:00 - 12:00
• Tuesday 19 January 2027 | 09:30 - 12:00

All meetings are held virtually via Microsoft Teams and are open to ASYE Leads and Higher Education Institution (HEI) Leads only. These sessions provide an opportunity to share updates, discuss key developments, and connect with colleagues from across the region.

Our social work co-ordinator for Eastern is Tamara James. If you would like to receive an invitation, join the SWAN network, or find out more about the group and its activities, please contact Tamara at Tamara.James@skillsforcare.org.uk

ASYE forum

The former Pan London Social Work Education Network (SWEN) and ASYE Best Practice Forum have now combined to form the London and South-East SWEN/ASYE Forum. The forum provides an opportunity for ASYE coordinators, social work leads and partners to share learning, discuss current priorities and exchange good practice from across the region.

The next forum will take place online via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday 7 October 2026. Registration details for this forum will be sent out shortly.

Key update: The Pan London Student Placement Portfolio documents for 2026/27 will be available on the website soon.

Our social work co-ordinator for London and the South East Area is Selena Docherty. If you have any questions  or would like more information about social work activity in your area, please email selena.docherty@skillsforcare.org.uk

Key resources:

• Pan London portfolio documents 2025-26
  These documents for the 2025-26 academic year have been developed by a group of universities in London and South East England.

• Brief review of Pan London placement documents 2025-26
  This document explains what has been amended in this years student placement documents. 
  
  

London forums

Our London forums are is divided into five local areas which hold regular social work education meetings. The forums provide an opportunity for you to work collaboratively with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support your strategic planning.

1. North West London social work partnership
2. North Central London ASYE, CPD and PE social work group
3. North East London social work partnership
4. South East London Social Work Reform Partnership

South East forums

Our South East forums are divided into four local areas which hold regular social work education meetings.

The forums provide an opportunity for you to work collaboratively with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to support your strategic planning.

1. Southampton, Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Portsmouth (SHIP) social work education group 
2. Sussex and Surrey social work education group
3. Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire social work education group.

Information about forthcoming meetings is included in our monthly social work briefing.

To help strengthen collaboration and streamline regional engagement, we have brought our East and West Midlands networks together into one. We have two social work education networks in the Midlands. 

• Wednesday 4 November 2026 | 12:00 - 14:00
• Tuesday 2 March 2027 | 10:00 - 12:00

Our social work co-ordinator for the Midlands is Suzanne Petrie. If you have any questions or would like more information about social work activity in your area, please contact Suzanne at Suzanne.Petrie@skillsforcare.org.uk.

Key resources

• West Midlands social work development group terms of reference.

• East Midlands regional guidance for the reaccreditation of practice educators.

To help strengthen collaboration and streamline regional engagement, we have brought our northern networks together into one North region. This combined approach includes colleagues from the North West, North East, and Yorkshire and the Humber.

North region social work meetings 2026–2027

Join us for our upcoming North region social work meetings, taking place virtually throughout 2026–2027. This is an opportunity to connect, share insights and stay up to date across the network.

• Tuesday 8 December 2026 | 10:00–11:30
• Tuesday 16 March 2027 | 10:00–11:30

Our social work co-ordinators for the North Region area are Ailsa Benn and Ali Davenport. If you have any questions or would like more information about social work activity in your area, please contact  Ailsa.Benn@skillsforcare.org.uk and Alison.Davenport@skillsforcare.org.uk.

Social work education networks (SWENs)

Our social work education networks (SWENs) bring together ASYE coordinators and social work leads from across the region to share learning, discuss themes emerging from moderation panels, and exchange good practice. Held twice a year, these networks provide an opportunity to connect with peers, reflect on current challenges, and explore approaches to supporting social workers through their ASYE journey.

The next online SWEN will take place on 27 January 2027, 10:30 to 12:00. Booking information will be shared closer to the date.

Our social work co-ordinator for the South West area is Holly Stockdale. If you have any questions or would like more information about social work activity in your area, please contact Holly at Holly.Stockdale@skillsforcare.org.uk.