Modernising social work services in Scotland

Chapter 1: Vision

1.1 People who use the services have clear views of what social work services should be: responsive to their individual needs reliable delivered promptly based on best practice and what is known to work.

Some social work services provided by local authorities achieve this, but this is not always the case. This White Paper proposes changes, linked to a number of related themes, which will establish a clear and positive role for social work services in our society - services that deliver what people want.

Themes

1.2 Social work services can make a key contribution to social inclusion They provide a crucial support to people at times of personal or family crisis. All of us are likely at some point in our lives to have to turn to social work services for support, whether for ourselves or for a family member. Social work services can also help to promote social inclusion, by supporting family and friends in ways that help people to remain active members of the community, and by helping offenders to become better integrated into a purposeful way of life. The Government have recognised the importance of this contribution by making substantial and increased resources available.

1.3 The social work task is difficult, and needs a competent, confident workforce to deliver it effectively. Social workers often have to take decisions that are far-reaching, with profound impact on the people they affect. Yet decisions often have to be taken on inadequate or conflicting evidence and in situations of great difficulty. Social workers and social care staff need the support of a strong professional ethos, backed by effective education and training and the guidance of clear codes of conduct and practice.

1.4 Service standards need to improve to meet the standard of the best.While some excellent services exist, they are not replicated across the country. We expect more consistent quality to flow from the steps to modernise services and from the development of National Standards. New arrangements for regulation will help to raise standards.

1.5 Vulnerable people and children need the protection of independent regulation of services. Regulation is not applied to all services at present and, where it is, there are inconsistencies across the services that are regulated. A national basis for regulation will address both of these shortcomings.

1.6 Social work services need to work closely with each other and with other agencies in order to deliver services effectively. The complexity of the social work task, and the need for it to link with other services, requires close and harmonious working within social work, with other statutory agencies, with the voluntary and private sectors, and with other departments within local authorities.

1.7 This is our vision for social work services. To help achieve it, we set out the objectives that social work services should strive to attain.

Objectives

To involve people who need care, and those who care for them, in planning services; and tailoring services to their individual care needs with effective measures in place to respond to suggestions. To provide effective and efficient social work services, based on the best available evidence of what works, that maximise individual choice and autonomy, demonstrate best value; and allocate resources to needs in a transparent and equitable manner. To contribute towards securing an inclusive society that supports individuals, families and children so that they can lead productive and meaningful lives with the help of their communities. To ensure that those children for whom the social work services have a legal responsibility receive a standard of care and support that enhances every aspect of their lives. To enable adults with social care needs to live as safe, full and normal lives as possible, in their own homes wherever possible. To develop and maintain community-based criminal justice services which have the confidence of courts and public. To work closely with partner agencies in the NHS, in housing, in education, in criminal justice, and in the voluntary and private sectors. To ensure that social care workers are appropriately skilled, trained, qualified and managed to promote the uptake of education and training at all levels.