The Social Work Task Force: Final Report
In 2008 the Government established the Social Work Task Force to conduct a ‘nuts and bolts’ review of the profession and to advise on the shape and content of a comprehensive reform programme for social work. The final report of the Social Work Task Force was published on Tuesday
1 December 2009, and makes a challenging set of recommendations to the
Government for social work reform. The report emphasises that the
practice of social work needs to be raised to a new level.
Recommendations include a call for a reformed system of initial training, together with greater leadership and a strong national voice for the social work profession, led by a college of social work. The report also calls for a single, nationally recognised career structure and a system for forecasting levels of demand for social workers, coupled with clear and binding standards for employers in how frontline social work should be resourced, managed and supported.
The Task Force has also recommended a licence to practise system for social workers to acquire and keep up their professional status. In addition to this, improved understanding among the general public, service users, other professionals and the media about the role and purpose of social work, the demands of the job and the contribution social workers make, will be crucial in raising and securing the status of the profession for the future.
The Task Force has recommended the creation of a single national reform programme for social work. This programme would drive the delivery of the key recommendations over the next five years.The Government response, also published on 1 December, accepted the recommendations, and undertook to take them forward.
To read the full report go to: www.dcsf.gov.uk/swtf