'My job is about giving confidence back to social workers'
When Eileen Munro recommended that every local authority should have a principal social worker, the government was quick to accept the proposal. Almost a year on, how is the role working in practice? Tristan Donovan speaks to Medway council’s first ever principal social worker.
22 March 2012
Service user involvement in post-qualifying training
Social work academic Jo Rees examines research findings on service user involvement in post-qualifying social work education.
14 December 2011
Critical success factors for improving social work
The Social Work Reform Board's recommendations provide a window of opportunity for social work to reassert its role and enhance its professional image. But what are the critical factors necessary for their successful implementation?
12 December 2011
Rolling out personalisation to mental health service users
A project led by Mind to tackle the low take-up of self-directed support among mental health service users has returned some positive results, writes Jeremy Dunning
05 August 2011
Landlords set to spurn care home provider Southern Cross
Landlords are set to reject Southern Cross's ultimatum of accepting a 30% rent cut, Community Care understands.
Instead, rival care home operators are actively planning on taking over the running of the homes.
02 June 2011
What makes a professional?
The Social Work Reform Board has set out what is expected of social workers at every stage of their career. Daniel Lombard looks at the first of nine core standards: professionalism
02 February 2011
Social worker threw fan at vulnerable child
A social worker who received a police caution after throwing a fan at a vulnerable child has been struck off the social care register.
26 October 2010
How social workers can renew their registration with the GSCC
Between January and April 2011, about half of the 86,000 social workers in England are due to renew their registration with the General Social Care Council
30 September 2010
Should children's social work be a touch-free zone?
Although physical contact is a human need, children's social workers are starting to take a hands-off approach in order to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and false accusations. Camilla Pemberton reports
20 August 2010
Councils battle to fill empty social work posts
Over the past year social work vacancy rates have improved in many English councils, but deterioration in others has pushed up the overall rate. Daniel Lombard reports
25 August 2010
Does a hard life equip you to become a social worker?
Does having a hard life equip you any better for a career in social work? Kirsty McGregor assesses the pros and cons of moving from service user to service provider
11 August 2010
Service users, personal budgets and Amsterdam
Does the spirit of personalisation extend to councils allowing people to spend direct payments on sexual services? Vern Pitt examines a debate that has divided social workers
10 August 2010
Let down by the NHS
A new Mencap survey confirms that people with learning disabilities receive worse health care than others. But specialist posts are making a difference, reports Mithran Samuel
21 June 2010
Coping without paperwork
The government has promised to sweep away the red tape clogging the care service, but some workers feel protected by paperwork, and face a change in the balance between deskwork and face-to-face visits. Molly Garboden reports
03 August 2010
Career clinic: My registration has been revoked
Q: I hold a postgraduate certificate in social care/work at master's level. I have 130 credits at level 3 and 40 credits at level 4 and although I did not pass the masters dissertation of my postgraduate course, (shortly after being diagnosed with Dyspraxia) I was successfully registered as a social worker in 2006 with the General Social Care Council with the post graduate certificate and have had a very successful career. I was told earlier this year that the GSCC made an error and have consequently revoked my registration. This means I now need to do extra work at university to get my postgraduate certificate to a social work diploma or master's but I have found it extremely difficult to get on a course. I am urgently trying to sort this out as my career has been put on hold.
Maisie Collin-Khouani, youth participation officer, London
30 July 2010
Quality in practice: Guidance on awaydays
Margaret Egrot believes an "away day" can build team morale and give a clear focus for team and individual work
30 July 2010
How to write a good report
Social workers are expected to communicate effectively and lucidly with other professionals, but many fail to do so. Anita Pati looks at the extent of the problem and Martin Cutts offers tips on writing reports
28 July 2010
A real sense of community in the North West
Co-operation between local authorities within the region and between agencies is the norm. This results in early interventions that avoid crisis management later, as well as promoting innovative practices for social workers, writes Rowenna Davies
23 July 2010
Is child protection a job for volunteers?
Volunteers have undertaken social work for hundreds of years but should their involvement be formalised, particularly in the context of the Big Society? Natalie Valios reports
16 July 2010
Hackneys Steve Goodman on the council's social work units
Steve Goodman has been campaigning to reorganise social work based on changes he helped implement in Hackney. Molly Garboden reports
21 July 2010
