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Claims that social workers back down from risk-taking drew an angry response at the conference.

Cosla health and social care spokesperson Eric Jackson attacked remarks made by the chair of the 21st Century Review of social work for presenting an "overly negative" view of the profession.

Jackson said he had been "left surprised" by the way Willy Roe had interpreted some of the interim findings published in a report last week).

Although Jackson agreed with most of the findings, he said Roe had implied criticism of management when he said in press interviews that social workers had become risk-averse in how they performed tasks.

"There is an element of risk and social workers are taking informed decisions all the time," Jackson said.

Alan McKeown, Cosla health and social care policy manager team leader, did not recognise the negative picture of social work in Scotland painted by Roe. "It doesn't take into account the social work degree course, fast-track scheme and new social work inspection service."

McKeown added that Roe seemed to imply that social work was stuck and failing to advance.

Jackson and McKeown agreed that the interim findings were based on research that was too narrow to draw broad conclusions. They said the review team was still to speak to more key groups in the sector.