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There is growing concern over the performance of Scotland's Social Work Services Inspectorate and the "conceptual fuzziness" around its responsibilities, president of the Association of Directors of Social Work Jim Dickie told the conference.

Dickie said proposed changes, including the creation of a new post of director of co-ordination policy in a new division within the SWSI, were a matter of serious concern.

"The response to this initiative can only be a resounding 'Why?'," he said, adding that there had been no consultation and the change appeared to have come from nowhere.

The proposals were outlined in a speech by education and young people's minister Cathy Jamieson last month as she set out the executive's Action Plan for Social Workers.

Dickie also called for greater clarity over the SWSI's relationship with new organisations such as the Commission for the Regulation of Care and the Scottish Social Services Council.

"Unlike other inspectorates such as in education, it attempts to straddle quality assurance, policy development and policy implementation, discharging none very effectively from a consumer's perspective," he told delegates.

"Putting in place the commission and the council will go a long way towards building confidence, but it is now overdue that the inspectorate's role be reviewed."