A strong national voice

1. A strong national voice

2. Aim A strong national voice Aim – to create strong, influential leadership of the social work profession. To contribute to achieving this aim create a new organisation – a national college for social work To develop this work and to understand the views of the social work profession a series of events are taking place and an on line survey has received 1148 replies Survey Info 99% believe a stronger voice is needed. 76% believe a national college will help establish a stronger voice

3. A strong national voice Theseare the options identified in the survey for the potential role for the college Managing relationships with other professions. Improve the understanding and status of social work among the public and media. Providing a public face and voice for the profession. Influencng the development of policy and legislation. Disseminating information and research to support best practice. Setting and maintaining professional standards. Securing high quality training and professional development. Improving pay. Improving conditions. Regulating professional conduct. Other. Potential roles for a national body asked in survey

4. A strong national voice From on line survey

5. A strong national voice First ADASS / SfC / DH event On 10th Sept SfC /ADASS /DH held a conference on NQSW A seminar group of 20 people discussed the National Voice with the Following results:- 90% believe a stronger national voice is needed. ( 5% not sue 5% no ) 55% stated a national college would help establish a national voice. ( 45% not sure 0% no ) 45% would accept individual membership fees. (55% not sure 0% no) Top Four functions for a college were:- 1st Providing a public face and voice for the profession. 2nd Improve the understanding and status of social work among the public and media. 3rd Setting and maintaining professional standards Equal 4th Managing relationships with other professions and Securing high quality training and professional development.

6. A strong national voice Quotes from on line survey There is a need for a stronger independent (of Government) voice representing Social Work. I strongly believe that a national identity and more structured and consistent social work education will help the profession. Social Work has long lacked a coherent, robust voice. Social Work needs to have a stronger presence. I don’t agree with the Government taking on the College alone. It needs to be a joint or out sourced college – not another quango. Setting and maintaining the ethics and values of Social Work needs to be included. Employers need to be held to account in terms of the way they manage, support and develop their Social Work staff. A national college should raise the professional profile of Social Work which is currently held in a dim light by the public and professionals alike. Until we have a body which represents high quality standards and enforces them, this will continue. Need to help distinguish professional motivation and ethics from organisational requirements as an employee. It should take a pro-active lead on all aspects of social work as separate from social care. It should be enabled to do this separate from Govt. developing an assertive and independent voice for the profession.

7. A strong national voice Funding DO YOU THINK THAT MEMBERS OF THE PROFESSION SHOULD PAY A SUBSCRIPTION FEE ? 41% YES 37% NO 22% DON’T KNOW

8. A strong national voice Recommendations Detailed work needs to be brought to the next meeting and needs to cover :- Specific recommendations on roles. Arrangements for Membership. Ensuring appropriate Independence. Relationships within existing landscape. Timing – to be set up asap in 2010. Funding / fees. Annual report to Government. Etc.

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