Launch of UK’s first practical guide for social workers in Wales

The UK’s first practical guide to help social workers be effective in their day-to-day practice has been launched by the Care Council for Wales.

The guidance, entitled The Social Worker, builds on the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers and describes what is expected of social work professionals. It is designed to be a practical tool to help social workers in their day-to-day work and contribute to bringing about good outcomes for those receiving their services.

The document includes a number of sections and topics relating to all aspects of a social worker’s role. These include items on standards of conduct, safeguarding individuals, professional boundaries and probity.

The Care Council will be distributing copies of the guidance to all registered social workers in Wales. Publication of the guidance comes after a public consultation which drew a response from hundreds of practitioners from across the country. There was a very positive response, with practitioners agreeing the guidance was welcome and would support social workers in providing high-quality services.

As well as being a resource for social workers, the guidance also has a regulatory purpose. Failure to follow the guidance could put a social worker’s registration at risk.

Gerry Evans, Director of Regulation and Professional Standards at the Care Council, said: “This is a must-have document for all social workers practising in Wales. It sets out exactly what’s expected of social workers registered with the Care Council and is the cornerstone of good practice.

“This guidance forms an important part of our wider work to professionalise the role of social workers. In particular, it will complement and enhance the work we have already started with partners to provide continuous learning and development for social workers at different stages of their careers.”

The Social Worker practice guidance