Communities of practice: how they can support your learning in social care

What are communities of practice?

If you’re searching for learning in social care, ‘communities of practice’ might not be the first term you type into your search engine. But you may be surprised to learn just how much they have to offer.

According to Etienne and Beverly Wenger-Traynor, communities of practice are “groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”. At Social Care Wales, our communities were set up to support people in the sector and beyond to build networks, work together and learn from each other. We want the communities to be a ‘secure base’ for members, who often act as a secure base for others. Our goal is to make people feel safe to explore topics that are important to them. With the community behind them, members know they can share, ask questions, and get support.

How do they work?

The communities have an online platform that includes blogs, a forum for discussions and other resources. But we also organise regular events and activities to help people meet other members and share their experiences. These can help get conversations and collaborations started offline too.

How can you get involved?

Each community has a community manager who can connect you with other members and support you in accessing and sharing learning. It’s free to be part of a community and all related activities are free too. We know it can be difficult to have the mental space for learning, between life and work pressures. This is why we’ve made sure you can do what works best for you. You can join us online (on the platform) or in person when you have time.

Why become a member?

There are many reasons why might find being a community member beneficial. Maybe you’re looking to learn from others and hear different perspectives. Maybe you want to celebrate what worked or reflect on what didn’t. Maybe you want to find like-minded people who can become part of your support system. Or you just want to do what’s best for the people around you. Our reasons may be different, but we all have something valuable to bring to the community.

Our communities of practice give you an opportunity to share ideas and talk about what matters to you. Conversations can move things forward and inspire change.

Find out more about the different communities, which one’s right for you and how you can join.

Join us and let's learn together to make a positive difference in the social care sector.