Government committed to highest standards in social work
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Version 0 of 1. The innovation clauses in the children and social work bill are there to allow great social workers to try out new approaches and be freed from limiting bureaucracy, all in the interests of achieving more for children (Letters, 6 July). This agenda is set out in Putting children first – the government’s vision for children’s social care excellence, published this week. There is absolutely no intention of allowing the delegation of child protection functions to profit-making organisations, and in most circumstances, that would be illegal. Our reforms to social work regulation are also about enabling the profession to achieve their ambitions for the people they serve. We are firmly committed to maintaining a single social work profession, and on driving the highest standards in work for both adults and children. The two chief social workers have a central role in setting out the knowledge and skills that social workers need for effective practice and a regulator with an undiluted focus on social work can have those standards in mind as they consider social work careers from initial education through to practice leadership. The new regulator will initially be established as an executive agency jointly supported by both the Department of Health and the Department for Education and this will be reviewed after three years. These proposals are an opportunity for social workers to influence and shape the standards and regulatory approach that are right for the profession, and most importantly, right for the people we serve.Edward Timpson MPMinister of state for children and families • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |