National initiative launches to focus on social worker wellbeing

The week-long programme brings together live webinars and recorded sessions exploring wellbeing from individual, organisational and system perspectives. Access to daily events and recordings will be shared via the Social Work Today e-newsletter each morning.

Organisers say the event is designed to offer practical tools and evidence-informed approaches to support social workers in managing the emotional demands of practice, while also encouraging discussion about leadership, workplace culture and sustainable ways of working.

The conference, which opens on 19 January – so-called ‘Blue Monday’ – comes as a result of research which found that the human health and social work professionals ranked the highest for risk of stress, depression and anxiety.
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The conference will begin with a session led by Dr Neil Thompson, award-winning author and educator with books including ‘Understanding Social Work’ and ‘People Skills’, examining ‘why effective leadership is essential for workplace wellness’. Dr Thompson will also close the week with a live Q&A session on 23 January, reflecting on how wellbeing can be embedded more consistently in social work organisations.

A range of contributors will deliver live webinars throughout the week, including Jan Carpenter, adult social work manager and wellbeing practitioner; Sarah Powell and Arin Sotoudeh from Coventry City Council; Lisa Winn, holistic health coach and breathwork practitioner; representatives from Stoke and Staffordshire Staff Psychological Wellbeing Hub; and Natalie Robertson, social work wellbeing consultant and coach. Sessions cover topics ranging from leadership and organisational culture to burnout, racial trauma, breathwork and self-acceptance.

Across the week, sessions address a broad range of themes including resilience and nervous system regulation, organisational wellbeing programmes, mental health at work, racial trauma, breathwork, self-care and burnout. Contributors include academics, frontline practitioners, wellbeing specialists and representatives from local government and the voluntary sector.

Practical sessions include guided breathwork, discussions on self-acceptance, and workshops focused on supporting wellbeing in high-pressure practice environments.

The focus on wellbeing was echoed by local authorities taking part in the conference. Stoke-on-Trent City Council, which is also holding its own Social Work Wellbeing Week (as part of the Social Work Today initiative), highlighted the importance of the agenda, saying: “In a profession where pressure is high and the work is emotionally demanding, wellbeing isn’t optional it’s essential.”

“National conversations like this complement the local action we’re taking to support our workforce, strengthen leadership and build healthier, more sustainable practice.”

The conference concludes with a final live session led by Dr Neil Thompson, offering participants the opportunity to reflect on the themes raised during the week and consider how wellbeing can be sustained beyond individual initiatives.