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The British Association of Social Workers Scotland has called for parenting orders to be scrapped.

The orders were introduced in Scotland last week and are to be piloted for three years. They are compulsory measures that are aimed to improve parents' ability to look after their children.

Political pressure was growing for the executive to rescind the legislation, said Ruth Stark, professional officer at BASW Scotland.

Even if the executive continued with the orders, social workers were unlikely to use them, Stark said.

"Social workers don't work with people by forcing them to do something. The hearing system reaches decisions by consensus that are in the best interests of the child and that's why social workers don't want to use them.

"An order says to children, 'your parents aren't up to it'. The legislation needs to be rethought," she added.

Eric Jackson, social work spokesperson at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, said that professionals would be "reluctant" to apply for orders, and said they should only be considered as a last resort.


Children's reporters or local authorities can apply for the orders, which are issued by sheriff courts to parents that do not accept support voluntarily.

Parents who fail to comply with orders, which last for a year and involve counselling, will be fined.

• Parenting orders guidance from www.scotland.gov.uk/publications