Be at the heart of exciting new social work research with service users – and gain valuable CPD hours

A number of BASW members have already participated in research interviews and expressed an interest in taking part in co-production workshops - we are now calling for more!

We are looking for social workers who work with adults to take part in a research study on the use of digital technologies with Disabled service users. You need to have been practicing as a social worker with adults for at least 12 months, and be working for a Local Authority, Health Authority or in a health setting.

BASW, together with the user-led organisation Shaping our Lives and Kings College London, is collaborating on a research project about how social workers who work with adults use (or do not use) digital technologies when communicating with and supporting Disabled people. We want to understand the pros and cons in the use of digital communication technologies for different people and for different tasks. You can get involved in two ways: by participating in a research interview and/or by taking part in a co-production workshop. For the co-production workshops we are now especially interested in social work educators – you may be a social work lecturer, a supervisor for student social workers or involved in supporting social workers in the AYSE.

1. Call for adult social workers to participate in a research interview

If you are eligible you will be interviewed by a service user who has been trained as a research interviewer. You will be given a choice about how and when you want to take part. It could be an interview by phone or via Zoom. Or you could opt to reply to a series of emailed questions. In the interview, we will ask you about your experience of communicating with Disabled service users and we’d like to hear your views on any guidance that might be helpful. 

You will be granted confidentiality (i.e. no one other than the researchers will know who said what) and anonymity (in the published research none of the interview participants will be identified).

We anticipate each interview will take one hour.

The researchers will use the findings from this study to provide information and guidance for social workers and Disabled people that we hope will improve people’s experience.

Through the interview process, you will have the opportunity to reflect on your professional practice. In light of this BASW will provide a CPD certificate to evidence this.

2. Take part in a co-production workshop

We are looking for up to eight individuals to participate in up to two workshops. The workshops will use the findings from interviews with social workers and Disabled service users to co-design a series of recommendations and good practice guidance. The workshops will be on 1st Nov 14:00-16:30 (First workshop) and 30th November 10:00-12:30 (Second workshop). Please let us know whether you can attend one or both. Participating in a workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on practice and again BASW will provide a CPD certificate to evidence this.

If you have also participated in a research interview, that would be extremely helpful, but it is not a requirement.

I’m interested - what do I do next?

If you might be interested in participating or would like to ask any questions please contact the researcher, Sophie on 0207 848 3033 or Sophie.Sarre@kcl.ac.uk