Transcript Building a safe, confident future

Building a safe, confident future
Moira Gibb
Chair, Social Work Task Force
Social Work Task Force Interim Report
The Task Force’s interim report was published in July 2009.
It set out the main obstacles in the way of social work becoming a
fully confident, effective profession, including:
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Poor public image and understanding
Education and training
Career structure
Practical resources including ICT
Overemphasis on process
Supervision, reflection and analysis squeezed out
No single focus of responsibility for promoting the profession
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Social Work Task Force Final Report
The Task Force’s final report was published on 1st December 2009
and sets out the ambitions for reform. These include:
• Better training
• Improved working conditions
• Stronger leadership and independence
• Reliable supply
• Greater public value and understanding
The influence of people who use services should be built into reform
from the start
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Recommendations
Initial Education and Training
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Stronger criteria governing the calibre of entrants to social work
education and training
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Overhaul of the content and delivery of social work degree courses
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New arrangements for high quality practice placements for all social
work students
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Assessed and supported year in employment as final stage in becoming
a social worker
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More transparent and effective regulation of education and training
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Time, Resources and Support
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Clear national standards for employers of social workers
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National requirement for supervision
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Dedicated programme of training and support for line managers
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Professional development and career progression
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National Framework for Continuing Professional Development
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Single nationally recognised career structure
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Leadership
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Independent national college of social work
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Public Value and Understanding
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Programme of action on public understanding of social work
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A Cohesive and Purposeful System
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The development of a licence to practise for social workers
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A new system for forecasting supply and demand
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A single national reform programme for social work
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Roles and responsibilities
• Government
• Employers
• Educators
• Social workers
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Government Response
The initial Government response accepts all of the recommendations.
It also makes a number of specific commitments, including:
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Working as quickly as possible to work through legislative and
resourcing implications
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Establishing a new Social Work Reform Board to oversee
development and implementation
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Publishing an implementation plan in early 2010
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Providing logistical support to the college while it establishes
itself
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And finally
“We know also that capacity across the social work service is very
stretched. It will be difficult for those coping with very demanding jobs
today to spare time to contribute to building a new future. As a result,
leadership by employers, supported by government, is needed in the
here and now to take the action which will begin to ease the
pressure.”
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