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| More rewards for social workers | More rewards for social workers |
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| Social workers will need a licence to practise under reforms aimed at boosting standards and morale. | Social workers will need a licence to practise under reforms aimed at boosting standards and morale. |
| Pay will be also be improved for the most experienced front-line staff after the government accepted proposals from its social work task force. | Pay will be also be improved for the most experienced front-line staff after the government accepted proposals from its social work task force. |
| It was set up a year ago after the death of Baby Peter at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. | It was set up a year ago after the death of Baby Peter at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. |
| The death of the 17-month-old in north London, who was known to be at risk, turned the spotlight on the profession. | The death of the 17-month-old in north London, who was known to be at risk, turned the spotlight on the profession. |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls said he hoped "something good" would come out of the case. | Children's Secretary Ed Balls said he hoped "something good" would come out of the case. |
| "This is a profession which for too long hadn't had status, training, support and sometimes challenge as well to make sure they get to the highest standards," he told the BBC. | "This is a profession which for too long hadn't had status, training, support and sometimes challenge as well to make sure they get to the highest standards," he told the BBC. |
| "We won't rest until we know we have the best standards of social work, not just in some places, but everywhere in the country." | "We won't rest until we know we have the best standards of social work, not just in some places, but everywhere in the country." |
| Probationary year | Probationary year |
| Children's Secretary Ed Balls: 'We need a consistency in practice' | |
| Mr Balls has previously denied treating ex-Haringey Council children's services director Sharon Shoesmith unfairly by removing her from her post in the wake of Baby Peter's death. | Mr Balls has previously denied treating ex-Haringey Council children's services director Sharon Shoesmith unfairly by removing her from her post in the wake of Baby Peter's death. |
| Under the reforms, to qualify for a licence to practise social workers will have to do a probationary year after completing a degree. | Under the reforms, to qualify for a licence to practise social workers will have to do a probationary year after completing a degree. |
| Employers will also be expected to agree standards on caseloads as well as to improve pay for the most experienced frontline staff. | Employers will also be expected to agree standards on caseloads as well as to improve pay for the most experienced frontline staff. |
| And there will be a national college for social work to champion the profession, with the aim of attracting and keeping more people in the job. | And there will be a national college for social work to champion the profession, with the aim of attracting and keeping more people in the job. |
| Health Secretary Andy Burnham told a press conference this format worked well for nurses and midwives and would provide both leadership and representation. | Health Secretary Andy Burnham told a press conference this format worked well for nurses and midwives and would provide both leadership and representation. |
| "The challenge is to say to [young people] that social work is the way in which you can improve people's lives," he said. | "The challenge is to say to [young people] that social work is the way in which you can improve people's lives," he said. |
| The big question is how well can we implement it and how quickly can it be done Hilton Dawson, British Association of Social Workers | |
| Mr Burnham added that "systematic improvement" was needed to enable the government to fulfil its pledge of establishing a "national care service" to provide free personal care to elderly people in their homes. | Mr Burnham added that "systematic improvement" was needed to enable the government to fulfil its pledge of establishing a "national care service" to provide free personal care to elderly people in their homes. |
| The Baby Peter case saw a picture emerging of a beleaguered profession, under attack when things go wrong but often dealing with high caseloads and staff shortages, said BBC social affairs correspondent Alison Holt. | The Baby Peter case saw a picture emerging of a beleaguered profession, under attack when things go wrong but often dealing with high caseloads and staff shortages, said BBC social affairs correspondent Alison Holt. |
| He died in 2007 with major injuries, including a broken back, sparking criticism of Haringey Council and the sacking of its director of children's services. | He died in 2007 with major injuries, including a broken back, sparking criticism of Haringey Council and the sacking of its director of children's services. |
| Unwelcome bureaucracy | Unwelcome bureaucracy |
| Shadow children's secretary Tim Loughton told the BBC social workers were frustrated at having to spend 80% of their time on paperwork. | Shadow children's secretary Tim Loughton told the BBC social workers were frustrated at having to spend 80% of their time on paperwork. |
| "Any changes that come out of this report - many of which will be welcomed - will count for nothing unless we strip away all this extra bureaucracy... and let [social workers] get on with their jobs," he said. | "Any changes that come out of this report - many of which will be welcomed - will count for nothing unless we strip away all this extra bureaucracy... and let [social workers] get on with their jobs," he said. |
| Chaired by chief executive of Camden Council Moira Gibb, the task force looked at the day-to-day responsibilities of social workers. | Chaired by chief executive of Camden Council Moira Gibb, the task force looked at the day-to-day responsibilities of social workers. |
| Among the issues it considered was how social workers prioritise their time, how they are supervised and what changes are needed to ensure appropriate numbers of front-line staff and support are provided for vulnerable children. | Among the issues it considered was how social workers prioritise their time, how they are supervised and what changes are needed to ensure appropriate numbers of front-line staff and support are provided for vulnerable children. |
| Ms Gibb told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that reform must begin with basic training. | Ms Gibb told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that reform must begin with basic training. |
| "People should be selected more carefully, they should be trained better and have a probationary year in practice," she said. | "People should be selected more carefully, they should be trained better and have a probationary year in practice," she said. |
| But she added: "The conditions social workers work under need to change as well." | But she added: "The conditions social workers work under need to change as well." |
| Career structure | Career structure |
| Ms Gibb has accepted the role of chairwoman of a reform board being set up to work alongside the government to implement the task force recommendations. | Ms Gibb has accepted the role of chairwoman of a reform board being set up to work alongside the government to implement the task force recommendations. |
| Our correspondent said local authorities and social workers are already asking whether there will be the money for the plans, and with an election looming, the political will to bring about real change. | Our correspondent said local authorities and social workers are already asking whether there will be the money for the plans, and with an election looming, the political will to bring about real change. |
| The Department for Children, Schools and Families is investing £109m in the social work workforce over the next two years. | The Department for Children, Schools and Families is investing £109m in the social work workforce over the next two years. |
| Hilton Dawson, the chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, said: "This isn't simply about pay. It's about an effective career structure which will keep the most experienced, best qualified people in practice. | Hilton Dawson, the chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, said: "This isn't simply about pay. It's about an effective career structure which will keep the most experienced, best qualified people in practice. |
| "At the moment the way to get on in social work is either to get out completely or to rise up the management hierarchy. " | "At the moment the way to get on in social work is either to get out completely or to rise up the management hierarchy. " |
| The big question was how quickly and efficiently the reforms could be implemented, he added. | The big question was how quickly and efficiently the reforms could be implemented, he added. |
| Are you a social worker? Should social workers have a licence to practise? Will it increase the status and morale of the profession? Will it keep more people in the profession? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you a social worker? Should social workers have a licence to practise? Will it increase the status and morale of the profession? Will it keep more people in the profession? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |