Our annual conference and exhibition 2024 took place on 25th September in Glasgow. In light of acknowledging current social work challenges, whilst exploring the development of future leaders, our keynote speakers and panellists pulled from both personal and professional experiences, addressing an audience of around 250 delegates.
Opening the conference, John Trainer, Convenor, Social Work Scotland and CSWO, Renfrewshire Council reminisced about his first day as a social worker and his journey to leadership, drilling down on the criticality of the profession, the human rights position, and posing the question “if not social work, then who?” when describing the vast responsibilities under social work’s remit.
Kathryn Lindsay, Chief Executive, Angus Council told us about her journey through the ranks and highlighted curiosity and truth as key components to success, alongside the importance of navigating stakeholders, whilst reminding delegates “social work is a calling, not a job”.
Dr Toyin Adenugba, Co-Chair, SASW, Social Worker, West Lothian Council, and Academic Tutor, University of Edinburgh spoke passionately about the front line practitioners whose voice can reflect the true needs of the profession, encouraging leaders to listen and engage.
Pennie Taylor, Freelance Journalist and Broadcaster, reflected on the role of media in social work leadership and public perceptions, encouraging delegates to query the level of relationship social workers, as a profession, should have with the media, noting “a journalist is only as good as it’s best contact”.
Phil Scraton, Professor Emeritus, Queens University Belfast, Criminologist, Academic and Author presented ‘Bearing Witness to the ‘Pain of Others’: Fractured Lives, Dissenting Voices, Recovering Truth’, a truly powerful account of injustices, reminding delegates that ‘social justice’ and ‘human rights’ are at the very heart of the profession.
Angela Constance MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Scottish Government addressed the audience in a pre-recorded message of support which included the national announcement of Graduate Apprenticeships for social work.
Our Director, Ben Farrugia, closed the conference with warm and welcomed reflections on the day’s discussions around developing leaders, echoing encouragingly that social work leaders really can be ‘agents for change’.
A huge thanks goes out to our Chair, David Lee, for hosting the day and facilitating crucial conversations; our headline sponsors, Magic Notes by Beam, for joining us for the first time this year; our returning supporting sponsors includem and Kibble for their continued commitment; our exhibitors for extending , and of course our delegates.
We’re pleased to have delivered a successfully engaging event offering thought-provoking conversations and inspiring messages to re-ignite the fire in future, and current, leaders to ‘fly the flag’ for the profession.
Planning for 2025 is now officially underway!
