Welcome
The Social Work History Network exists to explore the nature and growth of social work in order to inform contemporary policy and practice. Founded in 2000 in the UK, it is an informal network of social workers, historians, archivists, researchers, educators, students, and social work policy makers. The Network meets three or four times a year to discuss papers given by invited speakers. Meetings are open to all.
The Network is chaired by David N Jones and co-ordinated by Sarah Vicary. If you would like to join the Network's mailing list please contact: Stephen Martineau. The SWHN website is hosted by the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce: Unit researchers Carl Purcell and Stephen Martineau sit on the Steering Group of the Network. The Network is also supported by The Open University, the University of Chester, and the British Association of Social Workers.
Next meeting
30 June 2025, 2pm-4pm: "The Sure Start programme: a crucial chapter in the history of UK family support". Speakers: Naomi Eisenstadt CB and Dr Carl Purcell. This will be a hybrid event held at King's College London and on MS Teams. Details & Booking: The Sure Start programme: a crucial chapter in the history of UK family support
Join the mailing list if you would like to be kept up to date: contact Stephen Martineau.
News
14 January 2025: Obituary of Joan Baraclough – founding member of SWHN – who died on 24 December 2024, aged 91. (Professional Social Work)
20 June 2023: June Thoburn & David N Jones receive lifetime achievement awards at BASW AGM (BASW news item)
Recent meetings
24 September 2024: Social work histories of complicity and resistance. This was a joint webinar with the Social Welfare History Group (USA). (Online event; recording available)
17 June 2024: Social work and neglect 1948-today: From 'the cruelty man' and 'the problem family' via 'prevention' to 'safeguarding' (Hybrid meeting; slides and recording available)
24 April 2024: Contested values of social work in time and place. Exploring ‘origins of social care and social work’ (Online event; slides and recording available)
6 November 2023: Social work with older people – a hidden history (Hybrid event - slides available)
29 June 2023: Peering into historical reviews of social work: Qualitative research and autobiography. (Hybrid event)
5 June 2023: Uncovering the history of social work and social welfare – challenges and sources. This was a Social Welfare History Group (US) and Social Work History Network (UK) webinar. Recording and slides are available on the event page.
The 8 March 2023 meeting of the SWHN was The Uncertain Place of ‘Community’ in Social Work, a hybrid event at King's College London.
Presentations from the October 2022 meeting, "Knowledge for Practice: Changing ideas and influences on children and family social work", held on 26 October 2022 are available on the event page.
Go to the Social Work History Network event series page to see all upcoming and recent events.
Banner photo at the top of this page: A detail from 'The Almoner of the Great Northern Hospital at work'. The Hospital and health review, 1921. Credit: Wellcome Collection.