Hertfordshire County Council “Building a safe confident future” The final report of the Social Work Task Force November 2009

Hertfordshire County Council Overview Poor image of Social Work profession Steeply rising demand Capacity across service very stretched-acute recruitment and retention problems “Good social workers can and do make a huge difference in difficult situations ” 15 recommendations

Hertfordshire County Council “Weaknesses in recruitment, retention, frontline resources, training, leadership public understanding and other factors are all compounding one another”

Hertfordshire County Council New Challenges for the profession Adapting to the new agenda for personalisation Responding to heightened public concern about child protection Play an effective part in integrated working between different agencies

Hertfordshire County Council Comprehensive ambitious reform Improved training Improved working conditions Stronger leadership and independence A reliable supply of confident professionals Greater understanding among the general public of the role More use of research and continuing professional development

Hertfordshire County Council Reformed system of initial education and training Clear consistent entry criteria for social work courses Courses and teaching of a high standard across all providers- advanced teaching organisation status Supported and assessed first year in employment

Hertfordshire County Council Improved working conditions Clear, universal and binding standards for employers Employers to assess their performance against the standard-including caseload controls-and publish results Dedicated programme of training and support for managers

Hertfordshire County Council Stronger leadership and independence National College of Social Work National Reform Programme Avoid perverse incentives and an over-emphasis on process in performance measurement Continue to improve and develop ICS Identify necessary investment to make reform on the front line

Hertfordshire County Council A reliable supply of confident professionals Licence to practise social work Avoid caseload “ceiling” but employers to monitor and publish information on workloads National standard on the support social workers should expect from their employers New requirements for supervision

Hertfordshire County Council Greater understanding among the general public of the role Long term strategy for media relations Development of clear lines of responsibilty when a news story “breaks” at a national and/or local level Dessemination of good news and good practice examples

Hertfordshire County Council Increase in research and continuing professional development The development of a national career structure and a framework for the continuing professional development of social workers A single comprehensive story of what the expectation is for social workers at each stage of their careers Ongoing learning and professional development to be a responsibility and an entitlement

Hertfordshire County Council Priorities for the service in Hertfordshire Improve the provision and quality of practice placements Plan for assessed first year in employment Improve guidance on supervision of social workers Training and support for frontline managers

Hertfordshire County Council Priorities for the service in Hertfordshire/2 Improve understanding of demand and caseload levels-framework available early 2010 Increase collaboration with University of Hertfordshire and others –improve alignment of academic and practical elements of degree

Hertfordshire County Council “ Social Work has arrived at a watershed.This is a moment of opportunity that we all need to seize…..”