Social Work review in Scotland

Willy Roe, Chairman of the review, said: "Social work must change. We need to harness all our resources and expertise, across all sectors, to design services around the needs of people and shift focus from dealing with crises to prevention and early intervention."

The review comes against a backdrop of anxiety about child abuse cases, but aims to modernise all aspects of social work just as the Kilbrandon reforms resulted in the pioneering Social Work (Scotland) Act of 1968. Scotland's demographics have changed since Kilbrandon, the population has grown older, while drug abuse and social exclusion have resulted in more awareness of children at risk.
The review said the current model of social work delivery was "unsustainable" with staff working below their abilities, a one-size-fits-all approach and a lack of professional self-confidence.There was "overwhelming bureaucracy" which stopped them making the speedy decisions for those at riskand which was designed to protect staff by referring decisions upwards for approval.
One significant concern which the review has created is in relation to para-professionals. The new staff, akin to classroom assistants, would carry out basic duties, for example transporting children to family contact meetings or assessing the needs of old people, with the aim of allowing qualified social workers (QSWs) to focus on more complex casework.

The review found social workers' skills were being wasted "filing, ordering taxis, and filling in forms" and advocates a scheme already in use in Glasgow.
Christine Grahame, the SNP MSP who highlighted the social work failings in the Miss X case in the Borders, said: "We need people who can smell trouble on the front line, so I'm most concerned about para-professionals."I think it's to cover up the cracks and the fact they don't have enough social workers. Introducing para-professionals, whoever they are, means we have less qualified people on the front line and it could make matters worse, not better."

One senior council source wasquoted in the Scotsman as saying: "It's a missed opportunity. The executive is a one-trick pony. "It came up with these para-professionals for teaching and now it's doing it for social work. It's not impressive."

The paper also recommends social workers are kitted out with new gadgets such as Blackberrys, and includes a wealth of jargon, such as "accurate empathy" and "therapeutic genuineness".

Overall it was welcomed by professional bodies, councils and opposition parties, though on the assumption of adequate funding.

Peter Peacock, the education minister, said he had expected to be accused of offering "social work on the cheap", and strongly denied that suggestion."Meeting the modern-day needs in our society cannot fall to social workers alone, but their special skills are needed as part of complex care arrangements. The role of para-professionals can help relieve social workers of some of the tasks which don't necessarily occupy their full professional skills."

David Comley, director of social work services in Glasgow, said para-professionals had enabled his council to fill a 40% vacancy gap among social workers in two years.Glasgow now has two "social care workers" to each of its 350 qualified staff, and many of them are studying for social work qualifications themselves.

Recommendations
Services tailored to individuals
More early intervention
National priorities to clarify the social worker's role
Para-professionals to help ease workload on qualified workers
Explicit staff accountability
Stronger role for chief social work officer on councils
More learning from tough cases
More professional autonomy
Better career options and training
Budget and other decision-making devolved to the front line
More leadership training
Annual performance reports
National social work forum chaired by education minister