• by Siobhan Maclean
• 16th Jul 2018

SWSD 2018

We have recently returned from the Social Work and Social Development World Conference in Dublin (SWSD 2018). We had a stand in the exhibition area of the conference, which was very busy every day. People from around the world enjoyed trying out our social work theory app and hearing about Social Work Theory cards and Reflective Practice Prompt cards. We didn’t anticipate how popular the cards would be and actually sold out of reflective cards on the first day and theory cards on the second day. It is reassuring and concerning in equal measure to hear that social workers across the Globe struggle with contemporary approaches to teaching social work theory and critical reflection. Sometimes a fear factor builds up around theory informed practice which can prevent social workers from keeping theory on their professional agenda. One of the things that people love about the prompt cards is the way that these can be used to keep theory on the professional agenda, breaking down the fear factor.

Thanks to the International Federation of Social Workers and the Irish Association of Social Workers for organising such a good World Conference. We are already looking forward to Calgary in 2020!