A strong national voice Introductions. SW taskforce JSWU .. DH Want this to be a discussion Nadiya will writ it down Role of Task Force - commissioned by ministers to reform SW – prior to baby P – acknowledge wider Social Care role Interim report published July – Task force wants to achieve – a confident workforce – confident in its role with users and other professions – an effective role – continue to improve – be better understood – be well led – have high standards – be well trained. Regional event – on line feed – visits to local authorities – Social workers say – not enough time to do the job – frustrated by the tools they are given (IT) – do not feel properly prepared to do the job through their training – performance management having negative impact – quantity not quality - undervalued and under attack particularly in the media and not well led --- needing a strong national voice to represent the profession

A strong national voice Aim A strong national voice Aim – to create strong, influential leadership of the social work profession. To contribute to achieving this aim create a new organisation – a national college for social work To develop this work and to understand the views of the social work profession a series of events are taking place and an on line survey has received 1148 replies Survey Info 99% believe a stronger voice is needed. 76% believe a national college will help establish a stronger voice 1 It is the strong national voice that I want to hear from you today – On the slide from the taskforce events we have heard frustration about leadership no professional voice explaining the social work role publically no one representing social work to the media – baby Ptime lack of social work leadership nationally and locally no one setting the direction of social work no one promoting a social work culture no one demonstrating the effectiveness of social work And from that there has been a ground-swell of opinion that a national leadership body for social work should be established. The taskforce is clear that this is needed and I wanting to hear from the profession its views – and in particular what a national college might do ( t does have its views)

A strong national voice Potential roles for a national body asked in survey These are the options identified in the survey for the potential role for the college Managing relationships with other professions. Improve the understanding and status of social work among the public and media. Providing a public face and voice for the profession. Influencng the development of policy and legislation. Disseminating information and research to support best practice. Setting and maintaining professional standards. Securing high quality training and professional development. Improving pay. Improving conditions. Regulating professional conduct. Other. 2 here is a list of some suggestions of what a national college might do – and there is a survey currently being undertaken seeking views --- as part of that I would like your views today on what it should do – its priorities etc Go through the list

A strong national voice From on line survey 3what is missing Go through the list

A strong national voice First ADASS / SfC / DH event On 10th Sept SfC /ADASS /DH held a conference on NQSW A seminar group of 20 people discussed the National Voice with the Following results:- 90% believe a stronger national voice is needed. ( 5% not sue 5% no ) 55% stated a national college would help establish a national voice. ( 45% not sure 0% no ) 45% would accept individual membership fees. (55% not sure 0% no) Top Four functions for a college were:- 1st Providing a public face and voice for the profession. 2nd Improve the understanding and status of social work among the public and media. 3rd Setting and maintaining professional standards Equal 4th Managing relationships with other professions and Securing high quality training and professional development.

A strong national voice Quotes from on line survey There is a need for a stronger independent (of Government) voice representing Social Work. I strongly believe that a national identity and more structured and consistent social work education will help the profession. Social Work has long lacked a coherent, robust voice. Social Work needs to have a stronger presence. I don’t agree with the Government taking on the College alone. It needs to be a joint or out sourced college – not another quango. Setting and maintaining the ethics and values of Social Work needs to be included. Employers need to be held to account in terms of the way they manage, support and develop their Social Work staff. A national college should raise the professional profile of Social Work which is currently held in a dim light by the public and professionals alike. Until we have a body which represents high quality standards and enforces them, this will continue. 4So What should be the role What sort of organisation How can we achieve ownership by the profession Will you pay for it (OTs) How does it fit with existing landscape How can it be independent This is part of the consultation Need to help distinguish professional motivation and ethics from organisational requirements as an employee. It should take a pro-active lead on all aspects of social work as separate from social care. It should be enabled to do this separate from Govt. developing an assertive and independent voice for the profession.

A strong national voice Funding DO YOU THINK THAT MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION SHOULD PAY A SUBSCRIPTION FEE ? 41% YES 37% NO 22% DON’T KNOW

A strong national voice Recommendations Detailed work needs to be brought to the next meeting and needs to cover :- Specific recommendations on roles. Arrangements for Membership. Ensuring appropriate Independence. Relationships within existing landscape. Timing – to be set up asap in 2010. Funding / fees. Annual report to Government. Etc. 5

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