Social work college will ‘hold councils to account’

Councils should expect to be subjected to a new era of scrutiny by the under-construction National College of Social Work, a leading sector voice has warned.

Hilton Dawson, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) said local authorities – who employ the majority of the nation’s social workers – should expect the new national platform to have a “potent role” in overseeing their treatment of staff.

Speaking after BASW rejoined the Social Care Institute for Excellence-led development group that is working on the creation of the college, Mr Dawson said the new institution would require councils to be better employers.

“Local authorities are going to have to rejig some of their priorities,” he said.

“A key part of the BASW vision for the college development is that it must play an important part in the inspection of employers.

“Employers have been let off the hook by the current model .

“We’re looking for the college, fired up by a commitment to social work, to really challenge the commitment of their offer to social workers, and the extent to which front-line staff are protected , that people are supported, and that there is time for reflection.”

Mr Dawson said he expected the social work health checks now being undertaken at councils across the country to form the basis for councils listening to frontline staff and evaluating what needed to change.