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Peer led learning and support

How you can take a peer-led approach to social workers' development.

Continuing professional development (CPD)

Benefits of a peer-led approach to social workers' development

This guidance is for:

  • leaders
  • managers
  • supervisors
  • practice educators
  • social workers

Peer-led learning is a helpful approach to use in continuing professional development (CPD) for social workers.

It encourages collaboration, where practitioners learn from and support each other through shared experiences, insights, and expertise.

Peers also offer mentorship and social support, helping social workers set and achieve meaningful goals. Peer-led learning can be used both informally and formally to share knowledge.

Informal knowledge exchange can help social workers to share: 

  • practical skills and strategies 
  • examples from practice with their peers in an informal setting 
  • discussions, case studies, and reflective sessions where peers contribute their experiences 

Formal peer learning groups may offer: 

  • structured learning sessions led by peers with specific expertise or interest areas
  • clinical interventions and therapeutic techniques to administrative practices and policy updates
  • strategies for self-care and managing wellbeing can also be shared among peers

Peer supervision and support will improve: 

  • constructive feedback and guidance in supervision settings 
  • emotional support and practical advice for managing complex cases  

Peer-led learning in social work is a good way of sharing insights from peers facing similar challenges. This could include: 

  • examples and solutions directly relevant to daily practice 
  • specialised knowledge  
  • the enhancement of teamwork, trust, and camaraderie among practitioners 
  • using existing resources and expertise within the organisation 
  • reducing reliance on external training, making learning more accessible and cost-effective

References

Rogers, M., Joubert, M., Cunnington, C., & Bosworth, D. (2023). The Social Work Online Team Training (SWOTT) Toolkit: Embedding team-based peer learning in continuous professional development. Social Work Education.

Grant, L., & Kinman, G. (2014). Developing resilience for social work practice. Macmillan.

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The resources have been developed by Research in Practice in collaboration with DfE.
Published: 27 February 2025
Last updated: 27 February 2025