Title: Continuous professional development via self-directed learning amongst social work professionals

Authors: Georgy Hadwen, Laura Galloway

Addresses: Faculty of Higher and Community Education, Edinburgh University, 2.13 Patersons Land (PhD Office), Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, UK; Edinburgh City Council Health and Social Care, Edinburgh, UK. ' School of Management and Languages, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK

Abstract: This paper stems from the work done in the emerging area of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and its impact on Self-Directed Learning (SDL) within the learning organisation. It focuses on a research question raised during research on what Social Workers (SWs) want in terms of information. In a poorly researched profession, the paper attempts to examine how a sample of SW professionals and practitioners based in local government are currently accessing and using information within the context of self-directed learning.

Keywords: social work; knowledge sharing; self-directed learning; SDL; continuous professional development; CPD; evidence-based practice; information; multi-agency environments; new technology; learning organisations; social workers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2008.019545

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2008 Vol.8 No.4, pp.346 - 363

Published online: 16 Jul 2008 *

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