Why Social Work?

Deputy Education Minister Robert Brown shares his views on the value and rewards of a career in social work…

Unglamorous, poorly compensated, a thankless task. Words used by some people to describe their job in social work or care.

This is not my view. And thankfully, it seems, nor is it the view of an increasing number of professionals in the field. We know social work is challenging and often difficult work. It would be wrong to suggest otherwise.

But why is it then, that social worker numbers have risen 25 per cent in the last five years? Why are so many graduates being fast-tracked into the field of social work? Why, indeed, are employers queuing up to discuss how they can support recruitment and retention of social workers?

Is it perhaps because social workers have the power to change lives for the better. Is it because they help those who often cannot help themselves? Or is it because there are now unprecedented levels of support and training for those entering, and already in, the profession? Is it because social workers make a difference?

That social workers work with some of the most needy and at risk, has not changed. Nor will it, until such time as our most vulnerable adults and children receive the care and support they need. Social workers have a crucial role to play in protecting and supporting the most vulnerable citizens.

While it is a demanding career, and pressurised, social workers I have spoken to across the country have impressed upon me just how rewarding it can be. It is an opportunity few have – to genuinely touch and make a difference to the life of someone else. Yet people in social work and care have this chance every day.

We are working to make sure more and more people have that opportunity. In the past five years we have invested in a fast track degree scheme, bursaries for social work students and funding placements for students.

We now have more than 2,000 people training to become social workers across Scotland.

Nor does this emphasis on learning stop once someone enters the field. We want well-trained staff who have the chance to continue their personal development throughout their career.

In February last year we published Changing Lives: the report of the 21st Century Review of Social Work, which took a fundamental look at all aspects of social work. Its recommendations, which Ministers fully support, include building the capacity of the workforce to meet changes in demand, the capacity to deliver personalised services, and the capacity for sustainable change.

A highly-trained, highly motivated team of social workers is key to achieving these aims and we are now driving forward the development of social work services education and training.

Four regional Learning Networks have been established across Scotland, bringing together – for the first time – care providers from the private, voluntary and statutory sectors with universities, colleges and others to work in partnership on some of the key challenges that we face in effectively developing the workforce we need now and for the future.

By making sure our social workers have the tools they need to be successful in their jobs today, we create good managers of tomorrow. That is not to say we are not making provision for our current managers: as well as providing £5.5 million to local councils specifically for social care workforce training, we have made £500,000 available each year for a management programme called Leading to Deliver, which gives first-line and middle managers the chance to earn a PgCert in Social Services Leadership.

Next year, we will look at how we take forward our leadership and management programme.

I firmly believe that through better training, social work is becoming an attractive prospect for many who would not have considered it so in the past. Like any modern profession, we are beginning to make clear both the routes of entry, and the training available.

But the challenge ahead is to retain the talented individuals who work in, and are now entering the profession. With Changing Lives driving forward social work services in Scotland, I am confident that this will happen, to the benefit of all people who use such services and their carers across Scotland.

Social workers and care workers will be at the forefront of those who continue to make a difference.