BASW hail advent of Chief Social Worker but fear bigger picture is missing

The creation of a Chief Social Worker post to advise Government on social work and the effectiveness of help being given to children and young people announced today has been hailed as a ‘breakthrough’ by The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) who has long campaigned for this role.

The Government made this announcement today in its formal response to the recent independent review of child protection in England undertaken by Professor Munro.

The profession also welcomed the news that there will be a radical reduction in the amount of regulation through the revision of statutory framework to place greater emphasis on direct work with children, young people and families. By the end of the year statutory guidance will be amended meaning that the prescription of timescales and the distinction between core and initial assessments will be removed. The proposed Principle Child and Families Social Worker role will also be welcomed by social workers who have long since sought a means of enabling experienced practitioners to remain in frontline practice

However, concerns remain firmly apparent. Not least the reality that social workers in local authorities are currently facing a deluge of cuts, recruitment freezes, pay cuts and a degradation of their conditions of service – often cuts that hamper, rather than promote, a social workers ability to protect children. An enormous 93% of social workers responded to a BASW survey by telling us they have experienced cuts since April 2010, with 73% having seen colleagues made redundant.

As a direct result of cuts 91% of social workers have told us that they now feel lives are being put at risk. Against this backdrop it is difficult to feel positive about proposals for modest improvements.

Nushra Mansuri, Professional Officer at BASW said: “Ministers have today outlined a strong vision for improving child protection but this must be matched by an equally strong recognition of what is already right in front of them. Children must be afforded proper protection and have professionals who are properly supported and empowered to do this very important work.  What is missing from the Government’s response yet again is the stark lack of acknowledgment of the real world social workers operate in, depicted by impossible workload and capacity issues that have never been addressed.”