Social Work England is convening a one‑day national summit to explore how artificial intelligence could shape the future of social work practice, education, and regulation. The event, scheduled for Wednesday 20 May, 2026, will bring together social workers, people with lived experience, academics, technologists, and policymakers to examine both the opportunities and risks emerging technologies present.
The summit forms part of the regulator’s wider work on digital transformation and professional standards. With AI tools rapidly evolving—from predictive analytics to generative systems—Social Work England says it is essential for the sector to understand how technology may influence professional judgement, ethics, and the relationship between social workers and the people they support.
A collaborative, sector‑wide conversation
Key themes for the day include:
- How AI could support professional judgement and reduce administrative burden
- Ethical considerations such as transparency, bias, and accountability
- The impact of digital tools on social work education and training
- The role of regulation in ensuring safe and responsible use of AI
- How people with lived experience want technology to be used in practice
The regulator emphasises that the summit is designed to be participatory, giving attendees the opportunity to shape future guidance and regulatory thinking.
Open call for involvement
Social workers, students, employers, academics, and people with lived experience are invited to register their interest. Places are limited and will be allocated to ensure a diverse mix of voices across the profession.
The event will take place in person, with further details to be shared with selected participants.
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Finally, a structured conversation about AI in social work! The ethical considerations mentioned particularly how technology might influence professional judgement and the worker-client relationship are so important. It’s great to see the regulator being proactive rather than reactive. I hope the insights from this summit lead to practical, responsible guidance for the workforce. Thank you for sharing this useful update. Keep up the great work!