Moving Social Work

Open to all social work practitioners across Adult and Children's Services within the West Midlands Social Work Teaching Partnership. Please see our Partner organisations below. 

Training overview: 

Moving Social Work is an education programme designed to encourage social workers to speak about physical activity to disabled people and other groups. It is evidence-based and has been co-produced with multiple partners. These include Social Work England, social workers, disabled people, Disability Rights UK, leaders in county councils and the NHS.

Moving Social Work is embedded in the Government Disability Strategy (2021).

Disabled people have told us that for them social workers are highly trusted professionals who they would like conversations with about physical activity. Social workers and leaders in organisations also agree that the profession can play a vital part in advocating physical activity. Why? Physical activity improves wellbeing and mental health. It is then one excellent way of upholding the Care Act. Physical activity helps tackle health inequalities and social challenges. These include loneliness, substance abuse, crime, unemployment, and community involvement. There are many other benefits that come from physical activity!

Whilst there is an identified need to have conversations about physical activity, research within phase 1 of the programme showed that there is also a need to improve the knowledge, skills, and confidence of social workers in physical activity.

Through this training, you will: increase your knowledge, skills and confidence in promoting physical activity to disabled people and other people in the community.

Deadline for registering: Monday 2nd June 2025

Partner Organisations: 

Birmingham City Council

Birmingham City University

Cheshire East Council

City of Stoke-on-Trent Council

City of Wolverhampton council

Coventry City Council

Coventry University

Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

Keele University

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Shropshire Council

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Staffordshire county council (Including MPFT)

Staffordshire University

Telford & Wrekin Council

University of Birmingham

University of Warwick

University of Wolverhampton

University of Worcester

Walsall Council

Warwickshire County Council

Worcestershire County Council