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The Scottish executive's 21st century working group on social work is focusing too much attention on qualified social workers, it was claimed.

Delegates pointed out that much of the work was carried out in multi-agency teams or in joint structures by staff without social work qualifications.

Focusing on the role of the social worker in isolation would not give a true picture of the job, they said.

Kate Vincent, director of social work services policy at the Scottish executive, insisted that the review was "already wide and looking at a variety of social worker roles and allied professions". She added that its aim was to provide social workers with resources and a legal framework for the next 30 years.

Duncan MacAulay, interim director of Edinburgh Council, said that it would be a "mistake to review social work on its own".