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Local Practitioner Forums

The active involvement of frontline professional practitioners is key to the the development of social services in Scotland and in the implementation of Changing Lives. Local Practitioner Forums (LPFs) provide the means of delivering this. A number of LPFs have developed across Scotland, with the support of the Scottish Government and the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW).

A recent ADSW report involving all 32 local authority areas identified 16 LPFs as operational, 14 as ‘operational within 6 months’ and 2 areas in the early stages of engagement.

The Learning Networks and Local Practitioner Forums

LPFs provide an opportunity for practitioners to discuss and provide comment on local and national issues, consider Changing Lives and the implications for practice and identify and develop local solutions. The Learning Networks' aim is to to bring people together to develop shared solutions, to enable engagement with national initiatives and to support the development of local solutions, so we have a key role to play in supporting Local Practioner Forums. 

We have supported LPFs in a number of ways including: participating in or Chairing LPFs; supporting LPFs at start up stage by organising initial meetings; sharing ideas regarding who might wish to become involved. We welcome discussion with you on how we can support LPFs in your area. Please contact your regional Learning Network to discuss how we can support your local LPF.

Local Practitioner Forums in your regional Learning Network area

Check your regional Learning Network's website for information on Local Practitioner Forums in you area. Contact details for existing Local Practitioner Forums are provided, or you can contact your regional network for more information. If you would like to set up a Local Practitioner Forum we would be happy to help you, so again please get in touch with your regional Learning Network.

National Practitioner Forum (NPF)

The National Practitioner Forum (NPF) is made up of LPF members. LPFs are represented by the NPF Chair at the quarterly National Social Work Services Forum meetings. Justin McNicholl from Clackmannanshire LPF was elected as the first NPF chair in March 2008.

In March 2009, the National Practitioner Forum met with Chief Social Work Officers to develop a National Practitioner Conference. The conference, held in September 2009, was run by local practitioners for local practitioners and was a highly successful event.