Professional development is the heartbeat of our profession. It’s how we stay current, refine our skills, and ensure we provide the safest, most effective care possible. But what if we could transform professional development from a yearly checklist into a dynamic, deeply personal journey of growth?
The NSCSW is excited to introduce a pilot program designed to do just that. In 2026, we are launching the Circle of Learning, an innovative approach that moves beyond traditional, siloed learning. This initiative offers a more integrated, reflective, and community-oriented path to professional development, created in response to valuable feedback from our members.
This program is more than a new way to track hours; it’s a new way to think about our lifelong commitment to learning, unlearning, and growing as practitioners.
What is the Circle of Learning?
The Circle of Learning is a test initiative for 20-30 participants that reimagines how social workers engage with their annual professional development (PD). Instead of simply tracking individual courses and workshops, participants will embark on a holistic, year-long journey. This process is built on three core pillars: self-assessment, an individualized learning plan, and peer/group consultation.
This model was developed to address member feedback calling for a more meaningful, less-siloed PD process. Many have expressed that the current method can feel like “busywork” and doesn’t always foster deep integration of knowledge into practice. This new approach aims to be more accessible, particularly for neurodivergent members, by allowing for a unified reflection instead of multiple separate submissions.
The cohort model directly aligns with the evolving needs of our profession, the 2024 CASW Code of Ethics, the 2025 NSCSW Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice, and our collective responsibility to engage in anti-oppressive and decolonizing practices.
An integrated approach to professional growth
The Circle of Learning is designed to be a cohesive experience, where each element builds upon the last. The process provides a structured yet flexible framework for your professional development.
Step 1: Start with self-assessment
The journey begins with a foundational self-assessment. Using an intersectional wheel of power and privilege, you will reflect on your own social location and positionality. This critical first step helps you identify areas of privilege, where you must prioritize learning from marginalized voices, and areas of marginalization, and where you may need to focus on self-care and advocacy to prevent burnout and vicarious trauma. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about building the self-awareness necessary for truly safe(r) practice.
Step 2: Create a personalized learning plan
Your self-assessment informs the creation of an individual learning plan. This is your personal roadmap for the year. You will set clear goals based on your practice context, your positionality, and your professional aspirations. This plan will guide your choices for formal and informal PD, ensuring your learning is intentional and directly relevant to your growth. It connects your learning to mandatory topics like social work ethics, anti-racist practice, and truth and reconciliation in a way that feels purposeful, not prescribed.
Step 3: Engage in peer discussion
A key feature of this model is the peer discussion process. You won’t be on this journey alone. The cohort will meet to discuss learning plans, share insights, and hold one another accountable. This collaborative environment offers a space to gain diverse perspectives, challenge unconscious biases, and receive support from colleagues. It transforms professional development from a solitary activity into a collective one, fostering a community of practice that can reduce isolation and enhance critical thinking. There will be at minimum three group meetings to discuss the project, develop ideas, and reflect on, share, and integrate your learnings.
Step 4: Reflect holistically
At the end of the cycle, instead of submitting dozens of separate entries, you will prepare one integrated reflection. This can be a written essay or a video recording, offering flexibility in how you share your story. This final piece will weave together your self-assessment, your learning plan, the activities you completed, and the insights gained from your peer group. It’s an opportunity to articulate what you learned, what you unlearned, and how this entire process has impacted your social work practice.
Why this matters for social workers today
This new model is a direct response to the urgent calls for change within our profession. It recognizes that to truly serve our communities and service users, we must be committed to ongoing self-reflection and action.
The program’s focus on positionality and anti-oppressive practice is a vital step toward meeting our obligations to truth and reconciliation and addressing systemic harm. By encouraging social workers to examine their own privilege and biases, the cohort model promotes a deeper understanding of how we can reduce harm and practice in a more equitable way.
Furthermore, this approach honors the diverse needs of our members. By offering options for reflection and creating a supportive peer network, the program aims to create a more inclusive and accessible professional development experience for everyone. It moves us toward a culture where professional development is not a burden, but a source of energy, connection, and profound professional growth.
What are the commitments & benefits?
- Commit to 3 meetings (February, May, and October)
- Complete all Circle of Learning cohort activities by October 2026
- Share insights and feedback from the program
- Members who participate in this cohort will also be eligible to include up to 10 hours of its activities as informal PD
An opportunity to shape the future
The 2026 Circle of Learning is more than just a new program—it’s an experiment in co-creation. The insights and feedback from our inaugural participants will be invaluable in determining how this model might be adapted and expanded for all NSCSW members in the future.
This is your chance to be part of shaping the future of professional development in Nova Scotia. It’s an opportunity to engage in a process that is designed to be more meaningful, impactful, and aligned with the core values of social work. If you are a social worker who craves a deeper connection between your learning and your practice, and who is committed to the principles of social justice and reflective practice, this cohort is for you.
Who should join the Circle of Learning?
Any social worker in Nova Scotia who can make the commitments above can apply to join the Circle of Learning cohort. However, you may find the experience particularly valuable if any of the following sentences describe you:
- Systemic barriers have made the reporting process for professional development difficult or burdensome for you.
- Lifelong learning is important to you, but it can sometimes be challenging to find activities that are relevant to your practice needs and aspirations.
- You have a practical interest in adult learning and would like to develop your own ability to collaboratively support students, candidates, supervisees and/or peers in identifying meaningful learning goals and achieving them.
Recruitment for the Circle of Learning will begin in October 2025 for the 2026 registry year. Interested members can complete this application form to express interest, and reach out to Tyler Colbourne, Professional Development Consultant at [email protected] with any questions. Expressions of interest are to be completed by November 30, 2025. We will reach out to all applicants by early December.