Your journey to thriving as an independent social worker begins here, with these valuable resources. BASW will be by your side every step of the way to ensure your success and continue your vital role in making a positive difference in the lives of others.
These resources are specifically crafted to empower and support our valued independent social work members on their journey to thriving in their businesses. At BASW, we are committed to providing the necessary tools and guidance to help you excel in the world of independent practice.
There are four summary documents aligned to the toolkit:
- Foundations for Independent Social Work
- Doing Independent Social Work
- Running your business: Navigating the daily challenges of your social work business
- Decisions and Transitions in Your Independent Social Work Business
Want access to these but not yet a BASW Member? Find out more about Independent membership packages.
What is this toolkit about and who is it for?
Welcome to the Independent Social Worker's Toolkit, a comprehensive guide designed specifically for the Independent members of the British Association for Social Work (BASW).
This toolkit is tailored to BASW Independent members who aspire to establish and grow their private social work businesses. It aims to provide you with the knowledge, resources, and guidance needed to navigate the complexities of running a business in the social work sector. Whether you are considering self-employment, setting up a limited company, or exploring other business models, this toolkit supports you.
BASW membership offers essential scaffolding to being an Independent social worker. As a member, you gain security through insurance and professional representation, access to professional development and guidance for ethical and expert practice, and a community of peers who provide support and advocate for social work and the people it serves.
Throughout the toolkit, we provide examples of what BASW offers. To find out more, go to www.basw.co.uk
Independent social workers represent a unique group within the social work profession. Unlike agency or locum work, Independents have the autonomy to shape their practices, engage with clients directly, and build their businesses from the ground up. Understanding this distinction is vital as it underpins the ethical and professional standards you will uphold in your Independent practice.
BASW aims to support its independent members in thriving in their work, supporting a vibrant community that will contribute to the understanding of good social work across the United Kingdom.
A word on language
This toolkit mirrors independent social work in blending the language and philosophy of social work with the principles and ideas of business. We set out the synergies between social work and business in the first section on ethics. As an Independent social worker, you will become familiar with both areas and find a way to navigate and talk about the work you do in both the social work and business spheres.
We have used the term client to refer to people using your Independent social work services. This word encompasses anyone who may want to use any kind of service. We felt this term had the most universal application and worked best in this context.
Using the toolkit
We have set the toolkit out in four sections:
Section One The foundations for Independent social work explores ethics, social work roles, wellbeing and professionalism.
Section Two Doing Independent Social Work looks at how you get started, including deciding what type of business model and how to develop business plans and strategies.
Section Three Running your own business helps us keep going and managing well once we are established.
Section Four Decisions and Transitions helps us to think about expansion, changes and endings for our businesses.
Every section has case studies and tools attached to it to support you in your Independent social work journey.
We have set out to explore the practicalities of Independent social work. BASW’s Independent Membership provides a foundation for this. It includes insurance, advice, guidance, professional development and peer support opportunities. You will be supported by being a member of a community of Independents.
As a BASW member, you can talk to peers about their journey to Independent social work. You can join a regional network, the LinkedIn group or Facebook group. You can attend BASW events and gain insight into different areas of social work. And you can use guidance and professional development to explore how you can carry out best practice.
Once you are ready to get started, you can advertise your Independent social work service in the BASW Independents Directory.
