This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
Listen
New measures on social work education
27/01/2003
New measures designed to increase the number of social
workers and drive up standards in social work education
were unveiled today.
The reforms, building on the Social Work Action Plan
announced last April, include:
- A pilot fast-tracking system enabling graduates
with relevant degrees or experience to retrain as
social workers within 15-18 months for the current
diploma in social work
- Return to Practice programmes to encourage trained
staff back into the social work profession
- Around £2 million over this financial year and next
in grants to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),
local authorities and voluntary organisations to help
meet costs associated with student practice
placements
- Doubling the money available to voluntary
organisations to help provide formal training for their
staff
Students who complete the new social work honours
degree, which will replace the diploma in social work from
2004, could be eligible for reimbursement of their student
loans, if they sign up to work in areas most affected by
current shortages.
Speaking at the Kyle Resource Centre in Ayr, Education
and Young People Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"We need effective ways of recruiting and retaining
social workers, particularly in children's services, in
order to develop a confident, competent social services
workforce which gives protection and delivers vital support
to those who need it most.
"The new social work honours degree will replace the
present diploma in social work because a higher standard of
qualification is essential if we are to meet the new and
varied demands placed upon the profession.
"I am also announcing a Return to Practice programme
that aims to encourage qualified social workers to return
to the profession by updating their skills and knowledge.
This will be a short-term programme which will help fill
social work vacancies quickly.
"Social work is a rewarding and worthwhile career but it
is often difficult and demanding. It is essential to invest
in education and support for the social services workforce
to provide services fit for the 21st century. I am
confident that the framework we are launching today will
provide the basis for delivering better services for the
people who need and deserve the best that social work has
to offer."
Professor Bryan Williams, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of
Education and Social Work at Dundee University, said:
"Graduates from the new social work degree will be
equipped to undertake skilful practice in a range of
service settings and be able to cope well with the many
demands and challenges that modern social work
involves.
"They will gain both a clear sense of identity as social
workers but also learn how to work effectively with other
professionals to the direct benefit of the people who use
social work services."
The
framework for Social Work Education sets out the
expectations of the new social work honours degree. It
describes the standards required for every student and the
standards required from HEIs.
It will not be possible to become a social worker
without an honours degree, but students with a relevant
honours degree will continue to be able to study for the
post graduate diploma in social work. E-learning will be
encouraged and £500,000 will be available for specific
e-learning projects over two years.
Eligible graduates could have up to £9,000 worth of
their student loan reimbursed, subject to certain
conditions. They could receive £3,000 at the start of their
first social services position, £3,000 at the end of their
first year in the post and a further £3,000 at the end of
their second year in the job. The scheme will apply to all
those entering training in October 2003 and those
completing their training from June 2004 onwards.
The fast-tracking graduates pilot will involve
partnership with COSLA and will be funded by the Scottish
Executive at £10,000 per year per student. The scheme will
be available by summer 2003.
The financial measures provide around £2 million over
this financial year and the next:
- To make additional funding available to local
authorities to help them increase the number of
placements they are prepared to offer
- To give HEIs funding to help them work with local
authorities and voluntary organisations to create more
placements
- To give voluntary groups which demonstrate they can
use the money to increase the number of placements
offered
HEIs will receive £1,500 for each new social work
honours degree student to help with the travel costs
associated with practice placements, giving students
greater variety and choice of placement.
The amount of funding available to the voluntary sector
to help provide professional training for their staff is
being doubled. It will mean an extra £92,000 each year,
bringing the annual amount available to £184,000.
Two seminars on social work education and e-learning
will be held to help HEIs plan their teaching.
- Friday, February 14 at West Park Centre, University
of Dundee: Standards in Social Work Education -
developing the curriculum
- Friday, February 28 at Heriot Watt University,
Edinburgh, E-learning in the new degree
The first phase of the
Care in
Scotland campaign attracted more than 31,000 visits to
its website, 542 related enquiries to the Scottish Social
Services Council - then times the normal traffic - and 771
direct enquiries to Jobcentreplus.