DH seeks views on knowledge and skills in Adult social work

The Department of Health are asking for views on what social workers who work with adults need to know and be able to do at the end of their first year in practice.

They also want to know if you think the statement will help inform national minimum assessment criteria for social workers in adult services.

The draft statement has been put together by the Chief Social Worker for Adults, following Professor Croisdale-Appleby’s review of education of social workers with adults.

The College of Social Work (TCSW) welcomed the draft statement which proposes a national system of quality assurance for the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) and builds on work by TCSW to define what the expectations of social workers with adults should be.

“The College of Social Work (TCSW) welcomes the fact that the draft knowledge and skills statement for social workers in adult services draws inspiration from our work on the values and expectations of adult social work, and that it looks to build on the Professional Capabilities Framework which is being widely used across all agencies to improve practice,” said Jo Cleary, Chair of TCSW

“As the statement makes clear, social workers have a pivotal role to play in the implementation of the Care Act and in ensuring that the needs and interests of service users are firmly at the heart of decisions about their care and support.  And it is entirely right that the document stresses the role of good social work practice in upholding the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and Mental Health Act.”

“But we want to emphasise the vital importance of government identifying the common ‘core’ of knowledge and skills needed by all social workers, and of therefore linking this draft statement to the one on which the Department for Education has recently consulted on with respect to children and family social workers”.

“The College looks forward to providing a response to this important document after consulting with our members.  We would hope to play a lead role in delivering a more consistent approach to the validation of ASYE which will support better practice and help equip social workers to undertake their complex and challenging work.”

Ways to respond

Complete a response form and either email to: [email protected] or write to:

    Chief Social Worker for Adults,
    Room 208,
    Department of Health, Richmond House,
    79 Whitehall,
    London SW1A 2NS