News

President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, Mike Leadbetter, is to head a new practice learning task force.

The task force has been set up to meet the demand for more practice training in the new social work degree and will start work in September, hosted by training organisation Topss England.

Announcing the appointment at the education of social workers conference last week, health minister Jacqui Smith said: "We must ensure that social workers get the range of high quality practice learning opportunities they need to make the best possible start on a rewarding career.

"The practice learning task force will work with employers and higher education institutions to see that this happens and I am delighted that Mike Leadbetter has agreed to lead this work," she added.

As director of the task force Leadbetter will be supported by a project manager and nine practice learning change agents. The task force will be supported by Department of Health including monitoring the provision of practice learning through performance indicators, a review of the funding mechanisms for practice learning and the design of guidance materials including e-learning.

Leadbetter, who is also director of social services at Essex, said: "We will take a radical look at how we fund, support and develop learning opportunities for social workers."

"The importance of embedding social work training within a learning organisation and promoting continuous professional development will also be part of our task," he added.