by Carol Stewart | Jan 17, 2023 | Blog, Latest News
Chinara Enterprises is really proud to be taking part in Social Work England Social Work week again this year.
This year we will be hosting an event focussing on best practice in supporting social workers return to social work practice.
We will hear from:
- The Local Government Association, who led the national programmes
- Kings College London, Making Research Count and Chinara Enterprises Ltd team who developed and ran the learning and development programme for the national programmes
- Previous returners
This programme will be of benefit to :
- Social workers who have been out of practice 2 years or more, and need advice and guidance on how to return
- Employers who are exploring other innovative recruitment strategies, and want to learn more about how to get involved.
The seminar takes place on Monday 20th March from 10-12 online
Click here to book
We look forward to seeing you
by Carol Stewart | Dec 21, 2022
Social Work England: Social Work week event
Local authorities across the country continue to struggle to recruit experienced social workers.
This seminar will be sharing learning from the training and development programme delivered for social workers returning to social work practice. We will explore the benefits of such programmes, and how they can aid recruitment.
We shall be reflecting on what works, sharing our successes from the training programme, and hear from previous participants.
This seminar will be of benefit to social workers wishing to return and employers of social workers
Who can attend?
All qualified social workers who would like to know more about returning to social work practice, having left the register and wish to re-register, or those who are registered and need support with getting back into practice.
Employers of social workers who would like to find out how they can tap into this untapped workforce
Facilitators: Carol Stewart
Carol is Director of Chinara Enterprises ltd, and a registered social worker of over 25 years. She has been managing learning and development programmes for the LGA Return to Social Work national programme She is also a senior workforce development consultant, and the company has been delivering CPD for social workers for 15 years
Professor Jil Manthorpe and James Blewett of Kings College London
Suzanne Hudson: Senior Advisor: Workforce and Policy : The Local Government Association
Members of the Chinara Enterprises team and previous participants will also be sharing their experience
by Carol Stewart | Nov 24, 2022
All social workers registered with Social Work England are required to maintain and evidence their CPD before the annual renewal deadline in November each year.
From 1st December 2021 the following changes have been made about meeting the CPD requirements:
To meet the CPD requirements, you must record:
- a minimum of 2 pieces of CPD, including
- at least one piece of CPD with a peer reflection.
This event aims to :
Provide a reflective space for you to reflect on your CPD. The session will enable you to
- Discuss what you have learnt from completing CPD, using one of your own examples
- the positive impact the CPD activity has had (or will have) on your role, practice and the people you work with
Attending this event will not only support you in meeting the requirements for peer reflection, but will also count as 1 of the 2 pieces of CPD you are required to undertake
To prepare for this event, please come prepared with at least one piece of CPD you have undertaken
Who can attend ?
All registered Social Workers
Facilitator : Carol Stewart
Carol is Director of Chinara Enterprises ltd, and a registered social worker of over 25 years. She has been running these events for a number of years and supporting social workers in meeting the CPD requirements for the social work regulator.
by Carol Stewart | Apr 16, 2022 | Blog, Latest News
14 years ago today on April 16th I made a life changing decision. So you are probably wondering how can the lowest point in my life also be the highest point in my life?
Have you ever tried to climb one of those climbing walls, or tried to go up a hill only to keep going back down again, and you feel like giving up?
Well in 2008 the year my marriage ended, the year that the UK was in a recession, when I was struggling financially, and I had health challenges, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life, that was to set up my own company.
Many people at that time questioned my decision, and were not always very encouraging. There were some very difficult times ahead of me, I lost my home that I was living in for 10 years, and had to start again with two children to care for.
During my hardest of times I met and was supported by some very amazing people, who took a chance on me and my vision, and have remained form friends to this day, and have stood by me through thick and thin. On my darkest of days they were there, and on my brightest of days they were there for me.
You see just like that climbing wall that always got the better of me I could easily have given up, but I chose to continue because I have faith in what I want to achieve, faith in the vision, and wanted to be a role model for my children and to be able to provide for them, at the same time make a difference to those who I encountered on my journey.
The other day I facilitated a team building session, and I spoke about journeys. We spoke about how the team journey started, the continued journey and the final destination. Just like that team, my 14 years has been the most amazing journey. I have been blessed to have worked with some of the most amazing and inspirational people on my journey, some have stayed with me and some have moved onto other journeys, some were only meant to be with me for a particular part of my journey.
I started Chinara Enterprises to enable me to do the things that I am most passionate about, that I enjoy and to make a difference to the lives of others, be it through learning and development, consultancy, putting on live shows and concerts with the like of Junior Giscombe, Beverley Knight, or offering mentoring.
Chinara Team at Enfield
14 years and still still climbing that wall with the support and encouragement of so many people. Over the past 14 years Chinara Enterprises has worked with over 30 organisations, nearly 700 members, and over 1000 on our mailing list and growing each day !
Some of our biggest projects to date have been with the Local Government Association, where we are really proud to have developed and delivered the learning and development programme for the national Return to Social Work Programme for 3 years, as well as the Social Work Together Essentials programme.
RTSW graduation event
We have been at the forefront of discussions with regards to agency social workers learning and development, and are pleased to be engaging with Social Work England on supporting social workers in the independent sector.
We are immensely proud of our working relationship with Kings College London, Making Research Count, on the Return to Social Work Programme, Social Work Together Essentials as well as supporting agency social worker training.
Over the years the Chinara Enterprises team has expanded, and we now have a team of associates across the UK working with us on various contracts. People often ask me, how do you do it? ! If it was not for my amazing team, including Jame Blewett, Professor Jill Manthorpe, George Smalling, Shahilla Barok, Jan Carpenter, Jennifer Orgill, Jill Webb, Sarah Jones, Fiona Bryan, Toni Mitchell, Sue Skrobanski, Sue Conn, Andrea Goddard, Tosin Mason, my right hand person Stephanie Brown who has stuck with me for 14 years, my accountant, my insurance broker ,Lloyds Bank, my business mentor Michael Cheesman, my son and my dearly departed daughter, Beverley Knight , Orlando Gittens, Dj Bigger, DJ Munro, Everett Henry, Mi Soul Radio, Calvin Francis, Archie Dee, my Web team Delton Digital, Jade Consulting, Eli and Heather Thompson, Aadil Rasheed, Tony Matthews, Andy Franklin, Nigel Bee, Natty B, Kush Films, Sherry Ann Dixon , BeautyPac , Romero Bryan, Bryan Chambers, Angie Le Mar, Jahson, Don E, Hughie Crawford, ITV Meridian, BBC South East Today and BBC Radio Kent, to name a few ! Countless friends and family, all of this would not be achieved. Also had it not been for our many clients who took a chance on us, and appreciate what we do, we would not be where we are today.
So my message to you who are reading this is.. There may be times in your life when you are at your lowest point, do not give up, that point in your life can be the moment you decide to make a positive change, and make what was the lowest point in your life your highest one !
Stay blessed and thank you for reading
Going to finish up with one of my favourite inspirational songs from my dear friend and someone who I call family Beverley Knight
Thank you all !
