[3][4] and because SWU has a legal right for its A&R officers to attend and represent at disciplinary and grievance procedures unlike BASW, offering an extra layer of support for its members.

It saw 140 social workers and service users take part in a 100-mile walk from SWU's head office in Birmingham to the 2017 AGM venue in Liverpool, marching against austerity measures.

The walk had significant impact and generated national and regional media interest,[7][8][9] engaging with key government ministers and MPs.

[citation needed] BASW and SWU, in partnership with Bath Spa University are leading a campaign for improved working conditions for social workers.

At a Westminster Parliamentary reception on 27 November 2018 over 20 MPs made a commitment at BASW/SWU's parliament event to pledge their support for social workers[12] The aims of the campaign are to build awareness of the research[13] which shows that social workers are strongly engaged in their work and want the very best outcomes for people that use services, but they are hampered by poor working conditions and a lack of resources.

[citation needed] SWU advised on some aspects of the Ken Loach movie ‘Sorry we Missed You(2019)’ written by Paul Laverty and were given credits in the film.

[15] Thereafter SWU have promoted the 6 point Action Plan[16] through the media and contact with UK Politicians and Social Work Local Authorities.

Social Workers Union and Bath Spa University begin new research and action plan on reflective supervision best practices: April 2021.

Bath Spa University and SWU have collaborated on a new piece of research which seeks to develop and make available best practise supervision for social workers and related professionals.