The councillor overseeing the UK's largest social services department says continued reference to the Victoria Climbie inquiry threatens to overshadow the introduction of the new code of conduct for social workers.
Susanna McCorry, Birmingham Council cabinet member for social services and health was speaking after the introduction of new draft guidelines for social care staff from the General Social Care Council (News Analysis, page 20, 10 January).
McCorry said people should not concentrate on a few high-profile cases where the system has clearly failed and only talk of the potential for failing social workers to be "struck off".
"It is absolutely right that standards are upheld," she says. "This is about giving recognition to the professional nature of social care work. It is professional work that makes a real difference to the quality of life of thousands of people in this city every hour of every day of the year."
- Health minister Jacqui Smith has welcomed the GSCC's draft code of conduct describing it as an important step towards increasing public protection and raising standards of social care.
"People working in social care carry out excellent work every day and work with some of the most vulnerable people in society. The new codes of practice will help to ensure that they deliver a continuous high standard of care and are supported to do their jobs effectively."
She urged social care to contribute to the new standards by responding to the GSCC consultation.
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