Moving Social Work: Empowering Adult Services

Over the last year, Calderdale Adult Services and Wellbeing has been working with Moving Social Work (MSW), a research and education programme at Durham University, to help staff feel more confident talking about physical activity with people who access social care.

More than 100 staff have taken part in the Moving Social Work training. This included co-produced sessions led by Durham University academics, which highlighted the importance of physical activity for people with social care needs and how social care staff can support people to be more active.

In addition, MSW delivered five specialist sessions covering active social care leadership for managers, workplace wellbeing, intersectionality and physical activity, having active conversations, and developing Active Ambassadors.

The training explored how social care staff can support people to be more active in ways that work for them. It also challenged the idea that health services alone are responsible for physical activity.

One member of staff reflected:

"It was just something that had never crossed my mind before, that social care could have an input in this, because it always feels framed as a health issue."

The training has helped staff understand that even a simple conversation can open the door to opportunities that improve someone's wellbeing, independence and connection to their community.

Building confidence and changing practice

An evaluation of the programme found significant improvements in staff knowledge and confidence post training.

Key findings were:

• 90% of staff said they understood the importance of physical activity and the barriers disabled people can face, compared with 68% before.

• 82% said they now place a greater priority on having conversations about physical activity, compared with 42% before.

• 100% agreed that promoting physical activity is a positive part of social care practice, compared with 81% before.

• 82% felt confident identifying and overcoming barriers to being active, compared with 28% before.

  
  

Staff also reported feeling more confident signposting people to local opportunities and activities.

It's not about going to the gym

One of the strongest messages from the training was that physical activity looks different for everyone.

For some people, it might mean attending a local class. For others, it could be walking to the shops, gardening, housework or simply spending less time sitting down.

As one participant explained:

"What I got from the training was, it doesn't have to be going to a class. It can be at home, like hanging the laundry – anything that's getting up from sitting all day."

The training also encouraged staff to avoid making assumptions about what people may or may not want to do.

"You can make assumptions that someone isn't interested in being more active, so it reminds you to be open minded and ask someone."

Turning conversations into action

The learning is already influencing how staff support people in Calderdale.

One example involved a man with poor mobility and mild cognitive impairment, who was spending most of his time indoors. Following the training, staff worked with his carers to build short walks into his daily routine.

A member of staff explained:

"We have scheduled carers to come in and once they have done his food, they take him out just to walk up the road for 10 minutes, to get some air and some company. He's not just stuck inside those four walls."

They added:

"I wouldn't necessarily have thought of it without the training."

This simple change has helped the person get outside, stay active and enjoy more social contact, showing how small, personalised approaches can make a meaningful difference.

Looking ahead

The feedback from staff has been overwhelmingly positive, with many saying physical activity is now much more at the forefront of their thinking.

As one participant put it:

"I have always known about the benefits of physical activity, but certainly, I'm talking about it more with people now."

Colleagues at Moving Social Work have described the work taking place in Calderdale as "trailblazing", recognising the positive steps being taken to make conversations about movement, wellbeing and independence a more natural part of social care.

By helping people find ways to move more in ways that suit them, staff are supporting healthier, happier and more connected lives across Calderdale.