‘Roles And Tasks Of Social Work In England’ Consultation Launched

The next phase of the ‘roles and tasks of social work in England’ project was launched today (14 March 2007) by a project team working with the General Social Care Council (GSCC).

The three month consultation will give people who have had experience working as or with social workers the opportunity to share their view of what social work looks like at its best in today’s society.

The project has been commissioned by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills and follows on from the Options for Excellence: Building a Social Care Workforce for the Future review. Working alongside the GSCC are the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and Skills for Care (SfC).

An online consultation document has been published today setting out views on the roles, tasks and value of social work. Service users and others from social care and related sectors are invited to comment on the issues set out in the document building from their individual perspective and experience. The responses to the consultation will inform a final statement defining the roles and tasks of social workers which will then be presented to Government in the summer.

The consultation paper is available on the GSCC website alongside supporting information that should be considered before sending in your views. The response questionnaire, available online or in hard copy, will be available at www.tribalgroup.co.uk/GSCC-consultation shortly.

Lynne Berry, GSCC Chief Executive said: “Social work is facing change and challenges. This project will help define social work as a profession with a valuable contribution to make in the 21st Century. Services users are at the heart of social care services and will help shape the conclusions of the project.

“The consultation allows for people to express their views about what social work is to them and the role it plays in shaping and valuing communities. The snapshot of perspectives received throughout the consultation will help to inform the draft statement which ultimately defines the roles and tasks of social workers.

“The GSCC is proud to have been asked to work on this important part of the social care improvement agenda and will work closely with our partners to achieve the ambitions of Options for Excellence. We want to ensure that a national debate about the future of social work encourages a strong and wide ranging response from the social care sector.

“By developing the new degree and post-qualifying training, by registering all social workers in England and enforcing the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers, we have helped lay the foundations of a skilled and trusted workforce on which this project will build.”