The Links Group will be presenting a course on the British Association of Social Workers Expert Insight Series on Tuesday 30 September 2025, fittingly just in time for World Animal Day on 4 October.
The webinar, Animals as a Strategy of Coercive Control: Protecting Animals, Protecting People, aims to support social workers to better safeguard all victim-survivors of domestic abuse. The speakers will discuss the evidence underpinning “The Link” between abuse of animals and abuse of people, and in particular how animal abuse in the context of domestic abuse is a tactic of coercive control and an act of animal cruelty. The speakers include the UK’s first qualified veterinary social worker, Rebecca Stephens, Associate Professor of Social Work and Social Care at the University of Sussex, who will demonstrate why “The Link” is of relevance to social work, and how including animals in social work practice can lead to improved outcomes for all family members experiencing abuse.
The course provides 3.00 hours of BASW-accredited professional development hours and is delivered via MS Teams from 0930-1230 on 30/09/25. To find out more about the course, the learning outcomes, and to book, please visit the BASW pages here.
We are delighted to say that BASW will donate 50% of non-VAT ticket income to the Links Group, and we thank them for their generous support.
Course costs are (excl. VAT):
Individual Member Price: £38.40
Corporate Multi Bookings: £46.80
Individual Non Member Price: £58.80
and corporate multi booking rates are available – contact ProfDE@basw.co.uk for details.
The Links Group speakers for this course are Rebecca Stephens, Dr. Mary Wakeham, Amy Hyde and Dr. Andrea Lynch, and you can read more about them on the course booking page here and on The Links Group training and Meet The Team pages.
