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| Social workers 'to be licensed' | Social workers 'to be licensed' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Social workers will need a licence to practice, a report aimed at boosting standards and morale is to recommend. | Social workers will need a licence to practice, a report aimed at boosting standards and morale is to recommend. |
| Higher pay for the most experienced front-line staff is also proposed by the social work task force. | Higher pay for the most experienced front-line staff is also proposed by the social work task force. |
| It was set up by the government a year ago after the death of Baby Peter at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. | It was set up by the government 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, who accepted the report's recommendations, said he hoped "something good" would come out of the case. | Children's Secretary Ed Balls, who accepted the report's recommendations, 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. | |
| "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. | |
| Professional support | |
| "I'm committed personally to doing everything I can to support social workers to get there. I hope the profession itself will now take the lead." | |
| 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. |
| The big question is how well can we implement it and how quickly can it be done Hilton Dawson, British Association of Social Workers | The big question is how well can we implement it and how quickly can it be done Hilton Dawson, British Association of Social Workers |
| And there will be a national college for social work to champion the profession. | And there will be a national college for social work to champion the profession. |
| 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. |
| The task-force wants to increase the morale and status of the profession with the aim of attracting and keeping more people in the job. | The task-force wants to increase the morale and status of the profession with the aim of attracting and keeping more people in the job. |
| 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 a programme of reform must involve employers, educators and social workers. | Ms Gibb told BBC Radio 4's Today programme a programme of reform must involve employers, educators and social workers. |
| "It starts with basic training," she said. | "It starts with basic training," she said. |
| "People should be selected more carefully, they should be trained better and have a probationary year in practice." | "People should be selected more carefully, they should be trained better and have a probationary year in practice." |
| 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." |
| 'Neglected' profession | 'Neglected' profession |
| 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 report is being published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which is investing £109m in the social work workforce over the next two years. | The report is being published by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which 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 the report could "completely transform" a profession that had been "neglected and under estimated for far too long". | Hilton Dawson, the chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers, said the report could "completely transform" a profession that had been "neglected and under estimated for far too long". |
| He said: "The big question is how well can we implement it and how quickly can it be done." | He said: "The big question is how well can we implement it and how quickly can it be done." |