Lord Laming highlighted the serious problems affecting child and family social work practice: the heavy workloads, the low morale and the haemorrhaging of experienced staff from the front line.

The government, in response, outlined ambitious proposals for system change and workforce reform in its green paper Every Child Matters. The question is, will the proposals solve the problems or will they contribute to the demise of social work as a profession?

The green paper suggests an integrated approach towards identifying and meeting the needs of children through children's trusts and multidisciplinary teams. However, it is easy to recognise what should be in place but not realise the difficulties in achieving it.

It is clear from the case reviews that follow child deaths that effective multidisciplinary practice depends on each professional having a clear understanding of their own role and area of expertise, as well as that of others. If professionals work together in more integrated services without this clear understanding it is likely to lead to the development of "quasi-professionals" who are trying to be all things to all children and families, but meeting the needs of none.

The move to children's trusts and multidisciplinary teams could take child and family social workers out of organisations specialising in social work practice. In this situation, how can social work professionals maintain a sense of professional identity? Some people think that professional identity relies on credentials, expertise and autonomy. At least the changes to social work education should improve social work's status.

However, the new social work degree focuses on preparing newly qualified practitioners to be competent in most areas of social work practice. As a result newly qualified workers will have to rely on post-qualifying training and supervision to assist them in developing expert skills and in learning how to work autonomously as specialist practitioners. Consequently, in the future, the role of the supervisor will be even more crucial.

The green paper does not address the nature of supervision in the integrated world of child welfare. Without the chance of continual professional development through quality supervision, social workers will not develop the skills and expertise to become effective practitioners with their own sense of professional identity.

Jan Horwath is senior lecturer in social work studies at Sheffield University.