News

In one of the most significant developments for social work in the past 30 years, in 2005 social work will finally become a profession. A new law to protect the title of social worker comes into force in just a few weeks.

By the end of 2004, the General Social Care Council had received 65,000 applications to register. Although it will take some time for every applicant to become a registered social worker, each application restates the dedication to excellence by each individual social worker.

With registration, service users can be sure that their social worker is properly qualified, committed to high standards and accountable for the care they deliver. Social workers will be recognised for the professional skills and values they already have. They will join their peers from other professions in having their title enshrined in law and their reputation will be safeguarded.

Much is also happening in education and training, which is key to career development. Details of the new framework for post-qualifying awards will be published in the spring. Over the year, the first registered social workers who applied when the register opened in April 2003 will be looking to complete their 90 hours of ongoing professional learning and training before they need to re-register next year.

As the new structures in children's services bed down, some will fear that new roles may erode the traditional position of social workers. But it will also offer new opportunities, as the training and values of social work put social work professionals in an ideal position to lead and work with colleagues from other sectors in multi-disciplinary teams. Who better to straddle the sector boundaries and navigate the complex needs of people and their families than the social worker?

Protecting the professionalism of social work will be key to the future careers of all social workers. Let's make 2005 a year of which we can be proud.

Rodney Brooke, chair of the General Social Care Council.