“An informative and engaging event”

We would like to thank all exhibitors, visitors, including our Event Sponsor Vigoroom UK, CPD Sponsor West Sussex County Council, and Media Partner Social Work Today for making the event such a successful day.

Visitors at COMPASS Jobs Fair, London were able to discuss career opportunities and pathways with a range of social work employers, including: CPD Sponsor: West Sussex County Council, BASW/SWU, Become, Buckinghamshire Council, London Borough of Bromley, The Caldecott Foundation, Cellmark, Child and Family Training, Coventry City Council, London Housing of Cyrenians, Ealing Council, Finders International, Government of Jersey, Hampshire County Council, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London Borough of Enfield, The Mulberry Bush, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Pace, Remedy Social Care, Suffolk County Council (Children's) and Suffolk County Council (Adults).

Visitors were able to bring their CVs for informal interviews with exhibitors and discuss opportunities in informal interview rooms with CPD sponsor West Sussex County Council and London Borough of Bromley.

One social worker said: "It was great to engage and network with different local authorities and find out more about their current opportunities face to face.”

Visitors enjoyed a diverse range of seminars which explored key social work topics and trends, as well as social work cinema films.

Sessions on mental health and wellbeing were hosted by renowned author, social work expert and vice president at Vigoroom UK, Dr Neil Thompson.

One social worker commented on the seminars: “Mental wellbeing in the workplace is not spoken about enough in social work, so the wellbeing seminars were really relevant, insightful and helpful for everyone.”

Other seminars focusing on key issues in social care included ‘Promoting diversity and cultural sensitivity in social work’ led by Vivian Okeze-Tirado, Gold winner for the Social Justice Advocate Award at last year’s Social Worker of the Year Awards and advanced social worker at West Sussex County Council. This seminar explored what Vivian diversity and ‘cultural competence’ is and how it can be understood in the context of social work practice.

Representatives from BASW England held sessions on the ‘Independent Review of Children’s Social Care and Safeguarding Review: Learning, themes and key questions’ as well as ‘Social workers and social advocacy’ led by the director of BASW, Maris Stratulis.

Another social worker expressed their enjoyment: “There was a diverse selection of seminars at COMPASS Jobs Fair, London and it was great to participate in workshops and ask questions for discussions’.

BASW Professional Officer Rebekah Pierre hosted ‘Social Work in disasters: ‘Out of the Shadows’ where she discussed the role of the social worker in disasters and their role played during the pandemic.

The call for submissions for Rebekah's recent book, 'Free Loaves on Fridays' is now open to care-experienced people.

Find out more: https://www.socialworktoday.co.uk/News/Free-Loaves-on-Fridays%3A-The-Care-System-As-Told-by-People-Who-Actually-Get-It

Guests were also able to watch a variety of films in the Social Work Cinema throughout the day including sessions about safeguarding adults, boosting achievement of neurodiverse children in care, and the health and wellbeing of looked after children and young people.

The COMPASS Jobs Fair, Birmingham, will return 20 March 2023 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre.

Get your free ticket now and visit www.compassjobsfair.com/Events/Birmingham/Book-Tickets.

Other key dates for COMPASS Jobs Fair include: