1. Current progress of the social work reform programme October 2010

2. Introduction The Social Work Task Force was appointed by the previous Secretaries of State for Children, Schools and Families and for Health in to conduct a ‘nuts and bolts’ review of social work and to make recommendations for comprehensive reform of the social work profession Context of death of Baby Peter Not whole of social care workforce or children’s workforce Interim report in July 2009 with final report in December 2009

3. Interim Report July 2009 Social Work struggling to hold its own with: Widespread staff shortages Inconsistent and inadequate support Education and training not delivering consistently De-skilled through mechanistic approaches No focus of responsibility for health or image of the profession Poor public understanding

4. Social Work Task Force recommendations Calibre of entrants Curriculum and delivery Practice placements Assessed Year in Employment Regulation of social work education Standards for employers Supervision Front line managers Continuing Professional Development National career structure National college of social work Public understanding Licence to practise Social worker supply National reform programme

5. What happened next Social Work Reform Board established Supported by Working Groups Three Reference Groups – employers, service users and carers, and social workers Change of Government Munro Review GSCC changes

7. Employers ADASS ADCS CAFCASS Children England LGA LGE Mind NHS Confederation SOLACE Service users A National Voice Princess Royal Trust for Carers Shaping Our Lives Regulator GSCC Profession Aspect BASW College of Social Work Unison Educators Association of SW professors SWAP JUC-SWEC Universities UK Government BIS DfE DH Delivery orgs CQC CWDC HEFCE Ofsted QAA SCIE Skills for Care

8. Education working group The education working group presented two key reports on: Strengthening the calibre of entrants Practice learning arrangements Consulting the sector in late 2010 Reform Board will agree recommendation by March 2011 Changes expected to be implemented for the 2012 cohort of entrants Some progress already made e.g. publication of social work degree monitoring reports by GSCC

9. Career working group The career working group working on: Standards for the profession Assessed year in employment Continued professional development (CPD) framework Consulting on standards and CPD framework in late 2010 CPD framework to be phased in from 2011 Assessed year will be discussed at November Reform Board meeting The single career structure already being trialled in children’s services, and considering transferability. National career structure building on pilots

10. Employers standard working group Already encouraged employers to carry out a ‘health check’ Consulting on the framework for the employers’ standard in late 2010 The three main sections of the standard are: Ensuring adequate workforce provision and planning Ensuring a working environment that supports good practice Supporting a professional workforce The standard framework includes new standards for supervision The standard will be tested with employers, social workers and services users, before roll starting in spring 2011

11. The college of social work Set up of the College of Social Work supported by SCIE and funded jointly by DH and DfE Two Interim co-chairs have been appointed and an Interim board will take up post in Autumn 2010 Extensive consultation running from May to September 2010

12. First steps of reform The Board and its three working groups are therefore working towards three key ‘products’ to reform social work: Standards for the profession Standards for employers Standards for social work education The Board is developing them with the support of the profession employers, educators, regulators and the wider sector

13. Challenges for the Reform Programme Financial context Local ownership and capacity in the sector Other major changes e.g. White Papers could lead to unintended consequences Promoting change at a time of severe constraints

14. Final thoughts Coalition Government messages positive: “took constructive steps to help social workers in the vital task that they perform. The coalition Government will build on his initiative in this area, in particular taking forward the recommendations of the social work task force” Michael Gove MP, 2 June 2010 Major changes in Health Different model of doing business – localism? Opportunity for the sector to drive change