Broad welcome for interim Social Work report

Members of UNISON Scotland's Social Work Issues Group have given a broad welcome to the interim report of the Scottish Executive's 21st Century Review Group.

UNISON is represented on two of the sub-groups and this has ensured that members' views and experiences are kept to the fore in the discussions. The Social Work Issues Group was holding its third Social Work Conference on 24 May just as the interim report was published. Euan Robson, Scotland's Deputy Minister for Education and Young People was to attend to give a presentation and listen to members' concerns.

"We were pleased to see that the concerns identified in the report closely reflect what our members in the front-line have been telling us for some time," said Stephen Smellie, Chair of the Social Work Issues Group.

"However, despite all these difficulties, we know that there is a lot of excellent practice out there, and it was good to see that this was recognised too."

Consultation

The report is based on consultation with a range of service users and front-line staff. It recognises that, over the years, social work has become increasingly complex, with new legislation and policy initiatives, greater specialisation, increased social problems around drug misuse and mental health, and improved user involvement.

The report also identifies a number of concerns which make it difficult for staff to fulfil their role, including too much bureaucracy, risk averse management cultures and unhelpful and blaming responses by the media and the public to what the report somewhat euphemistically calls "untoward incidents."

It makes some important points about the type of leadership and management needed to empower social work staff to practice to a high professional standard, and another sub-group has been set up to take this forward.

"I was reassured that the report recognised that some parts of social work are high risk, and that sometimes, with the best will and the best practice in the world, children and vulnerable adults will be injured or will die," said Kate Ramsden, Social Work Issues Group member.

"Obviously it is terrible for all concerned when something like this happens. However, research shows that going into defensive mode, and adding new layers of procedure and bureaucracy doe not work, but adds to a risk averse culture which inhibits professional autonomy and accountability.

"As a profession, we need to be able to learn from such tragedies in a climate of openness rather than blame," she added.

UNISON will continue to be involved in the work of the 21st Century Review, and will continue to highlight the issues raised by members.

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