NQSW Conference 2026 Launch your social work career

Are you in the final year of your social work degree and want to know more about your first job with ASYE employers?

From 3-5 February 2026, Social Work Today are hosting this exclusive 3 day online conference for social work students to speak to their potential first employer, including practitioners and recruiters from local authority employers in the UK.

This is your opportunity to engage with a range of social work professionals where you can ask questions, learn more about their practice principles, what makes them different and the key areas they focus on with Newly Qualified Social Workers, as well as the support and training they provide as your ASYE progresses.

Conference timetable:

Gloucestershire County Council
Tuesday 3 February 10:00-11:00am
‘Thriving as an ASYE Social Worker: Confidence through clarity’

Dalina Caramidaru - Recruitment and Retention Coordinator, Adult Social Care, Gabrielle Wells - Recruitment and Retention Advisor, Children’s Social Care, Alice Hunter - Advanced Educator, Children's Social Work Academy, Lorna Martin - Advanced Educator, Children's Social Work Academy, Cath Cade - Practice Development Social Worker, Adult Social Care

As a Newly Qualified Social Worker, you will be supported to practice effectively, exercise high quality skills in analysing situations of increasing complexity, risk, uncertainty, and challenge, acting with confidence and autonomy. By joining Gloucestershire County Council, we provide a unique, high level of tailored support through our ASYE programmes to promote your development in your tools and resilience to not only do the job, but to enjoy it! Join our webinar to learn more about our support offering throughout your ASYE Programme.

Register here: www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-thriving-as-an-asye-social-worker%3A-confidence-through-clarity

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YzY0ZTBjZGUtYjIyNC00ZDE4LWIyYzEtNjlmOWFlYTUxN2Iz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%225faec754-64e3-4014-9bcc-e72fc73ba312%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2274f803bb-ad36-4afb-a865-87eee38c6559%22%7d


Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Tuesday 3 February 2:00-3:00pm
‘Confident and Creative: NQSWs and Direct Work with Children’

Jo Brammer - Recruitment & Retention Lead

As a NQSW the idea of direct work with some children can feel quite challenging. Come and join us as we share ideas on how to build confidence in completing creative direct work with children in a range of different circumstances.

Register here: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-confident-and-creative%3A-nqsws-and-direct-work-with-children

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_Nzc1YTdlMDMtNTNkNS00MWNmLWE3MGUtMGQ4YWVlYWJmODFh%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2245646121-da65-4cc7-ab41-4122336d87e1%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%227c3272c0-ba0c-4101-ac9a-4218d75aac37%22%7d


Peterborough City Council
Wednesday 4 February 10:00-11:00am
‘Embark on your social work and ASYE journey with confidence at our Centre for Professional Excellence’

Eleanor Jones - Team Manager, Lee Pardy-McLaughlin (OBE) - Service Director for Practice Centre for Professional Excellence, Tara Morgan - Advanced Practitioner, Hilda Bhila - Social Worker and Matt Johnson ASYE Lead

Starting your social work career is a big step, and the ASYE programme is designed to make that transition smooth and rewarding. At Peterborough City Council, we offer our bespoke Centre for Professional Excellence for you as a NQSW and beyond, we want NQSW'S to become confident in their practice, feel valued and be an integral part of Children's Services.

Join us to discover how we create an environment where good relationship based social work can flourish, empower our practitioners to reach decisions which are in the best interests of Peterborough's Children. We’ll share insights into our approach, answer your questions, and show you how we help newly qualified social workers turn potential into practice.

Register here: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-embark-on-your-social-work-and-asye-journey-with-confidence-at-our-centre-for-professional-excellence

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35334019927018?p=GV54e4wrts6tf4uMZr


Birmingham Children’s Trust
Wednesday 4 February 12:00-1:00pm
‘An interview with an ASYE: Real life stories’

Sophie Gilbert - Head of Service for the Learning Academy and Sirah Ali - Team Manager

This live session is a Q&A session with the ASYEs themselves at Birmingham Children’s Trust hosted by Head of Service for the Learning Academy, Sophie Gilbert and Team Manager, Sirah Ali. The session explores their experience in their first year as a qualified social worker and what this means to their development. It is informative, helpful feedback including real life stories and voices of NQSWs about what it's really like and any top tips for interviews and making the most of the time in your first year qualified.

Sophie and Sirah will also look at career progression after ASYE and what this means for a Newly Qualified Social Worker. They will talk about the developmental pathway at BCT for social workers starting their career journey.

Register here: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-an-interview-with-an-asye%3A-real-life-stories

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YjY4Y2I1N2YtMDBhYS00NTYyLWFhNGItMGI3ZjZiMjQ4M2Rm%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22699ace67-d2e4-4bcd-b303-d2bbe2b9bbf1%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2238ac6f08-e786-44a2-933c-89fc8cf86bad%22%7d
Meeting ID: 326 429 697 683 39
Passcode: SL9tU7Zo


The Social Life
Wednesday 4 February 3:30-4:30pm
‘Reclaiming Resilience: Science Backed Strategies for Social Worker Wellbeing’

Natalie Robertson

This interactive session will explore practical, science backed strategies to support wellbeing and build resilience in social work practice. Led by Natalie Robertson, an experienced trainer and wellbeing coach specialising in nervous system regulation, the session offers tangible tools grounded in neuroscience and trauma informed approaches. You’ll leave with greater insight into how to work with your nervous system, not against it, and how to embed micro practices into your day that help sustain emotional energy, presence and purpose in this demanding profession.

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NWU1NzExODAtMzkzMS00NTRhLWFhOTgtNTk2MDI1M2VkZThl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%224099f899-390b-494b-8d32-014de0f383ea%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22b63eef10-5019-4068-aa7c-75427f675ca0%22%7d


Vicki Shevlin, Trainer
Wednesday 4 February - the link to this recording will be shared closer to the time
Before you knock: An introduction to confidence and safety in home visits

Home visits are not simple, especially in safeguarding. Entering someone’s home means stepping into their world. It requires sensitivity, self-awareness, and practical preparation.

This webinar offers a practical introduction to preparing for home visits that may carry risk, uncertainty or emotional intensity.

This webinar will offer grounding and self-regulation and equip you with practical tools, reflective strategies and confidence for one of social work’s most complex tasks.


Coventry City Council Children’s Services – Social Work Academy
Thursday 5 February 2:00-3:00pm
‘Come and work for an award winning academy and develop your career in “Child Friendly Coventry”’

Claudine Morris – Social worker and Arin Sotoudeh – Improvement Lead

This webinar will explore Coventry’s award-winning Social Work Academy, showcasing their elite programme that gives every newly qualified social worker the essential tools, support and skills they’ll need to thrive within their social work career.

This programme offers you the opportunity to learn and develop in the ‘Coventry way’ and builds on the foundations of your journey to ensure best outcomes for the children and families in Coventry.

Find out more about how Coventry Children’s Services can kick start your career in social work and meet our passionate and friendly team.’

Register here: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-come-and-work-for-an-award-winning-academy-and-develop-your-career-in-%E2%80%9Cchild-friendly-coventry%E2%80%9D

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/39952128909167?p=StXH9cEQuWX3TvORZ4
Meeting ID: 399 521 289 091 67
Passcode: ry6ns7Xs


Oxfordshire County Council
Thursday 5 February 4:00-5:00pm
‘Daring to do it differently: Engaging and supporting NQSWs’

At Oxfordshire County Council we believe in “Engage with, Not do to” with the families we work with. Our framework of Practice is Motivational Interviewing, Restorative Practice and Trauma Informed. This is embedded into our daily practice and values. We believe in providing a scaffolding experience of support for all of our Newly Qualified Social Workers to be able to provide the best support for children and families. Come learn more about how Oxfordshire is Daring to do it Differently.

Register here: www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026%3A-daring-to-do-it-differently%3A-engaging-and-supporting-nqsws

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3206551181026?p=oShfoYUXztThPHwBSi


The Neil Thompson Academy
Thursday 5 February 6:00-7:00pm
‘Keeping the Learning Going’

Dr Neil Thompson - Award-winning author and educator

In this final session of the conference, acclaimed author Dr Neil Thompson emphasises the importance of building on your learning and avoiding getting stuck in a rut. He offers practical guidance on how to keep the learning alive so that you can go from strength to strength. Neil explains the key role of critically reflective practice and of staying in touch with our values. He will also outline how his online learning resources – especially his Social Work Finishing School – can be of direct use. Join us to hear the valuable insights Neil is able to offer.

Register here: www.socialworktoday.co.uk/online-events/nqsw-conference-2026-keeping-the-learning-going

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3269636318029?p=9EBzbUTkNuR8pDKpTe


Through live and pre-recorded webinars, students can engage with local authorities from across the UK, including Team Managers, Training Officers and NQSWs from Social Work and Social Care Academies. They will be able to provide an insight into the schemes they offer ASYE students and advice on launching a social work career.

Students will also have access to articles and podcasts with advice and helpful tips to guide you on your social work career pathway.

As an ASYE employer, why not take this opportunity to showcase your practice values and provide valuable insight on the journey of a social worker within your organisation. This conference will provide you with a unique position to present your offerings, engage with candidates and show how you support newly qualified social workers through a range of live and pre-recorded webinars as well as Q&A sessions. To discuss further, please email hello@socialworktoday.co.uk
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NQSWs and Social Work students can register for free with us for as many sessions as you want to attend and make the most of what we have to offer.

Why take part?

Whether you’re looking to recruit NQSWs, or looking for your first step in social work, our national online conference will help you to connect with those looking to recruit, and looking for their first job in social work.

You will be able to:

Engage with potential employers and candidates
Ask questions about life as an ASYE, NQSW and about starting your journey as a social worker
Network with organisations who are actively recruiting and meet other student social workers
Listen to ASYEs currently working with Local Authorities and hear their experiences and advice
Showcase what opportunities and benefits you have to offer as a Local Authority employer

If you are interested in taking part or require further information, please email hello@socialworktoday.co.uk.