Review offers clear direction for long-term future of social work profession

Published on Wednesday 8 February 2006 01:03

SOCIAL work has been described by some as "society's conscience", stepping in to ensure that a person or child lives in a safe and healthy environment. It attempts to balance the competing demands of the individual, communities and finite resources.

Demographic and societal changes over the next 20 years will be a major test for social work, while rising public expectation and an increasingly risk-averse society will continue to add new dimensions and pressures to the service.

What the publication of Changing Lives and the minister's response yesterday has done is begin to map out a clear direction for social work - something we have long needed. The Review Group should be congratulated for avoiding quick-fix solutions and instead focusing on a long-term plan to strengthen the profession.

A fundamental issue for the Association of Directors of Social Work (ADSW) since 1999 has been the making of social work policy. During the creation of the Scottish Executive, social work functions - community care, criminal justice social work and children's services - were spread out across departments, and various ministers' portfolios picked up responsibility for parts of social work.

This has contributed to fragmented policy directives and competing initiatives. We are particularly pleased that the minister has responded to our plea for a national policy forum. This forum will be chaired by the minister and can begin to ensure that social work policy develops in an integrated and co-ordinated way.

However, there are two issues that the report did not touch on but are at the heart of delivering quality social work services.

The review did not have social work funding in its remit, but this continues to cause great concern. Children's social work services in particular are in significant difficulty.

This is why ADSW has agreed to commission a high-level, independent report into the funding of children's social work services.

We believe this report will confirm ADSW's suspicions - informed by Professor Midwinter's recent report - that the under-funding of these services are "surprisingly large and exceptional" (135 million) and that the situation is now "so serious" that the Executive clearly needs to review its level of provision.

Finally, social work departments continue to struggle with staff shortages. We must maintain a skilled, experienced workforce capable of meeting the considerable demands placed upon it if we are to keep hold of these social workers and make headway. To do this, we need to create a national framework that governs pay and conditions.

These issues aside, the publication of the review now means we can start to work through the changes that are needed in social work. We are up for change and keen to get on with it.

• Colin Mackenzie is president of the Association of Directors of Social Work