Move to quell worries over social work status

Social work matters - it's official. New statements reaffirming the importance of social work in adult care have been published and an implementation plan for the reforms recommended by the social work task force is due shortly. The implementation plan is expected to set out a timetable and the funding arrangements for a national college of social work, a probationary year and career structure for social workers, and a strengthened system of education and support. But both the Department of Health (DH) and directors of adult social services have already moved to assuage widespread concern among social workers that they will lose out to unqualified staff under the government's personalisation policy. In an "advice note" to its members, published today, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass) lists 11 distinct activities in which social work should continue to be important, if not essential. It is intended to complement a statement on the future of social work that came out earlier this month from the DH, supported by sector bodies Adass and Skills for Care. In the "transformed world" of personalisation, social workers will work more closely with user-led services, spend more time on safeguarding rights and have a stronger role helping troubled families, the DH statement said. "Social work skills will continue to be important contributions to assessment, care planning and review, but social workers may do more direct social work with a stronger therapeutic element." Ruth Cartwright is joint manager for the British Association of Social Workers, which formally endorsed the DH statement and plans to launch its own social work college. She says many social workers are worried about how personalisation is being implemented. "We are concerned about the way it is being interpreted in some areas, where the care and support an individual might want and need is being broken down into tasks that can be undertaken by people without a social work qualification. "We have heard from social workers who are concerned that too much is being expected of their social care colleagues without the advantage of the necessary training and knowledge." Cost-cutting in local authorities has also led to redundancies among social workers working with adults, the 12,000-strong association claims - a view backed by statistics that suggest a future decline in demand for qualified adults' social workers. A survey published last September by training standards agency Skills for Care predicted that demand for qualified adults' social workers would fall by 1% by 2014-15, compared to a rise in demand for children's social workers of over 10%. Adass insists that evidence of unqualified social care workers taking on social work tasks is so far anecdotal and not widespread. It says it is "critical to have clarity about the value and contribution of social work", but admits that "cost, efficiency and effectiveness" will be a key issue for directors planning their workforces. "If you don't have effective social work practice, the costs will be greater than any savings you might make by not having social workers," says Bernard Walker, co-chair of the Adass workforce network. "If you don't bring their knowledge and skills to bear on mental health assessments and hospital discharges, for example, long-term care plans may be less effective and ultimately cost more." Among the tasks Adass says should be done by social workers in adults' services are statutory mental health duties, continuing care assessments, safeguarding rights where deprivation of liberty is in question, adult protection, direct work with families where dysfunction is inter-generational, drug intervention programmes and other work connected with criminal justice, plus research and development on the evidence base for professional practice. Amanda Edwards, deputy chief executive of the Social Care Institute for Excellence, is also confident that the role of social workers will not diminish with personalisation. The "core skills" of social work will remain important, she says. She believes the social work taskforce reforms, including plans for a supported first year in employment for new recruits, will be of particular benefit. "This is relevant at a time of change by giving staff the opportunity to explore their training needs." The government has already pledged £4m to support newly qualified adults' social workers in a scheme overseen by Skills for Care, following a similar pilot for children's social workers, and it is hoped that further funding will follow. Meanwhile, new ways of working for social workers are being floated. Both Labour and the Conservatives are keen to promote the role of the independent sector, including co-ops and social enterprises, in social care. Increasingly, social workers will find themselves being commissioned by user-led organisations and service users themselves. Cartwright welcomes the renewed policy focus on social workers: "Much of the work they do is unsung," she says. Weblinks Adass: adass.org.uk British Association Social Workers: basw.co.uk Skills for Care: skillsforcare.org.uk Social work taskforce: dcsf.gov.uk/swtf