Aspect welcomes Social Work Taskforce proposals
Aspect welcomes Social Work Taskforce proposals – and calls for funding guarantees
1 December 2009
Aspect, the Association of Professionals in Education and Children’s Trusts, today welcomed the Social Work Taskforce report but called for early assurances that public spending cuts won’t undermine it.
General Secretary John Chowcat said:
“Today’s report is historic and can make a fundamental difference to the status of the social work profession. We particularly welcome the proposals for a protected social work probationary year for newly qualified staff, for protection of time for the professional supervision of all staff including managers, and national workload management guidelines.”
John Chowcat continued
“All these measures are essential to creating safer working and restoring staff morale. However, these steps, together with the welcome proposals for additional pay for experienced staff, need additional resources to make them a reality and we expect all three major political parties to supply assurances that the funding to do this will be ring-fenced.”
“Aspect also welcomes the establishment of a National College of Social Work but recognises that additional work will be needed to make this the strong voice of the profession it needs to be”.
“Every Local Authority now needs to move swiftly to reduce the demands that the Integrated Children’s System makes on social worker time.”
Aspect believes it is essential that practical steps to implement these proposals are taken urgently and that neither the general election nor the growing pressures on public spending are allowed to interfere with those steps
