Social Work Task Force

Recommendation 1: Calibre of Entrants — The Social Work Task Force recommends that criteria governing the calibre of entrants to social work education and training be strengthened.

Recommendation 10: National Career Structure — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of single, nationally recognised career structure for social work.

Recommendation 11: National College of Social Work — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of an independent national college of social work, developed and led by social workers.

Recommendation 12: Public Understanding — The Social Work Task Force recommends a new programme of action on public understanding of social work.

Recommendation 13: Licence to Practise — The Social Work Task Force recommends the development of a licence to practise system for social workers.

Recommendation 14: Social Worker Supply — The Social Work Task Force recommends a new system for forecasting levels of supply and demand for social workers.

Recommendation 15: National Reform Programme — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of a single national reform programme for social work.

Recommendation 2: Curriculum and Delivery — The Social Work Task Force recommends an overhaul of the content and delivery of social work degree courses.

Recommendation 3: Practice Placements — The Social Work Task Force recommends that new arrangements be put in place to provide sufficient high quality practice placements, which are properly supervised and assessed, for all social work students.

Recommendation 4: Assessed Year In Employment — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of an assessed and supported year in employment as the final stage in becoming a social worker.

Recommendation 5: Regulation of Social Work Education — The Social Work Task Force recommends more transparent and effective regulation of social work education to give greater assurance of consistency and quality.

Recommendation 6: Standard for Employers — The Social Work Task Force recommends the development of a clear national standard for the support social workers should expect from their employers in order to do their jobs effectively.

Recommendation 7: Supervision — The Social Work Task Force recommends that the new standard for employers should be supported by clear national requirements for the supervision of social workers.

Recommendation 8: Front Line Management — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of dedicated programmes of training and support for front line social work managers.

Recommendation 9: Continuing Professional Development — The Social Work Task Force recommends the creation of a more coherent and effective national framework for the continuing professional development of social workers, along with mechanisms to encourage a shift in culture which raises expectations of an entitlement to ongoing learning and development.