About Us | Social Work Education Partnership

Our Work

SWEP’s primary objective is to improve the accessibility, consistency and quality of social work education in Scotland. This includes opportunities in both pre- qualifying and post-qualifying learning and development. As a partnership, it is recognised that whilst SWEP members have their own organisational and sector governance, it is important we work together to create conditions for the delivery of agreed national improvements. Governance arrangements for SWEP are tiered to provide clear accountability and reporting arrangements for strategic planning and delivery.

SWEP’s work will report into the National Social Work Agency (NSWA) Advisory Group, providing advice around emerging issues and updates on progress. Currently an emerging structure, the NSWA Advisory Group plays an important role in shaping the profession’s future direction and provides the opportunity to consider the social work workforce, education and training more broadly.

Our Roots

The beginnings of SWEP can be traced back to the pivotal moment in 2015 in the Review of Social Work Education. The Statement on Progress 2015-2016 bore witness to a collective commitment to drive improvement and consistency across social work qualifying programs, setting the stage for a partnership-driven approach.

In 2019, SWEP was established, and in August 2020 this expanded to be supported by the SWEP Programme Office. It was built around collaboration, fuelling the evolution of social work education in Scotland. The SWEP Programme Office serves as a facilitation hub, supporting the coordination of invested partners to ensure social work education thrives.

Our Groups

SWEP consists of the Strategic Group which has overall responsibility for setting the priorities and direction of work and the Delivery Group who delivers and oversees progress within agreed timescales. The work of the Delivery Group falls into two themes and will be progressed through agile membership of both Pre-Qualification and Post-Qualification groups. The Delivery Group Chair will provide quarterly progress reports to the Strategic Group and is supported by the Programme Office.

Strategic Group

Responsible for determining SWEP's strategy and priorities in the current and future social work education landscape.

Delivery Group

Responsible for managing and executing approved work programmes and outputs in line with SWEP's objectives.

Pre-Qualification

Responsible for supporting the progression of work areas such as Practice Learning Opportunities (PLOs), Grow your own Social Worker, and trainee and graduate apprenticeships.

Post Qualification

Responsible for supporting the progression of work areas such as the Newly Qualified Social Worker mandatory year in Practice and the Advanced Practice Framework.

Mission

SWEP’s mission is to futureproof social work education in Scotland by fostering national and regional partnerships and spearheading the implementation of progressive frameworks.

Vision

SWEP envision a landscape where every social worker is equipped with the adequate skills, knowledge, and resources to create positive change in the lives of individuals and communities.

Our Core Objectives

Consistency in Education

SWEP is dedicated to ensuring consistent foundations in the development and delivery of social work qualifying programs, aligning with the Framework and Standards in Social Work Education (SiSWE).

Practice Learning Excellence

Through national and regional partnerships, the aim is to facilitate the provision of comprehensive Practice Learning Opportunities that ensure social work students are equipped to excel in real-world settings.

Responsive to Change

SWEP remains vigilant about developments in policy and practice, adapting social work qualifying programs to align with evolving requirements. The goal is to foster a seamless integration of advancements into education.