by Rosie Varley, GSCC chairThe media portrayal of social work since the tragic death of Baby Peter has been both saddening and frustrating. Misconceptions and sweeping criticisms of social work were, and continue to be, commonplace. The absence of a strong voice consistently speaking up for social workers has been striking.
Many people have asked me why the GSCC, the social work regulator, did not do more to defend the profession during this challenging time. Whilst I feel strongly that there is an urgent need for a national voice for social work, this cannot fall under the remit of the regulator. Independence from the profession is a key principle of regulation and critical to public confidence. Unlike trade unions and other bodies which represent the profession, the GSCC is not a membership organisation where joining is optional but a statutory body where registration is mandatory.
The public would not expect a regulator of MPs' expenses to appear on television championing elected members' financial propriety, whilst in the same breath demanding back money. Whilst the professions and the challenges facing them could not be more different, this example illustrates the conflict of interest that could arise. A regulator perceived to be overly sympathetic to those they oversee could seriously undermine public confidence.
At our recent conference we heard from Nigel Clarke, who chaired the inquiry into the creation of a professional body for pharmacy. One thing he said particularly stuck with me - regulators are not there to be loved but to be respected. It is vital that this concept is clearly understood and this is something I have been keen to address since taking office. But in defining the role of the GSCC, it has become clear that there is a gap in the architecture of social care bodies. There is no single body devoted to leadership and excellence.
Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that professions benefit enormously when they have strong national voice to speak up for them. Social workers, who deal with problems in our communities that most people do not understand and do not want to hear about, need this more than most. We have written to the Social Work Task Force to support the development of a national voice for social work, which would remain separate to the role of the regulator. I see this as an important and necessary step towards social workers receiving the recognition and admiration they deserve.
The public would not expect a regulator of MPs' expenses to appear on television championing elected members' financial propriety, whilst in the same breath demanding back money. Whilst the professions and the challenges facing them could not be more different, this example illustrates the conflict of interest that could arise. A regulator perceived to be overly sympathetic to those they oversee could seriously undermine public confidence.
At our recent conference we heard from Nigel Clarke, who chaired the inquiry into the creation of a professional body for pharmacy. One thing he said particularly stuck with me - regulators are not there to be loved but to be respected. It is vital that this concept is clearly understood and this is something I have been keen to address since taking office. But in defining the role of the GSCC, it has become clear that there is a gap in the architecture of social care bodies. There is no single body devoted to leadership and excellence.
Experience elsewhere has demonstrated that professions benefit enormously when they have strong national voice to speak up for them. Social workers, who deal with problems in our communities that most people do not understand and do not want to hear about, need this more than most. We have written to the Social Work Task Force to support the development of a national voice for social work, which would remain separate to the role of the regulator. I see this as an important and necessary step towards social workers receiving the recognition and admiration they deserve.
With regards to Rosie Varley's statement on social workers needing a voice, she is 100% correct in her views and the GSCC is there to regulate not to advocate for social workers.
However, a voice alone as I assume she realises is not the answer but only goes some way to supporting social workers. In relation to baby P and the social work task force, does anybody actually know what social work is? and what they are actually doing to address the problems? What about the discrepencies between the training at university and the field of work? How is that being addressed? I think that there needs to be a single plan or model to address the problems nationally in social work however, this seems non existent. There are too many vague initiatives and ideas.
As a regulator, has the GSCC put forward any proposals to the government about the way forward for social work? Is there a concrete plan? What is it? for example, a time limited structure which addreses specific areas? I hope there is a plan but also that it is congruent with social work and what it entails, becauase if it isn't, a voice for social workers will not know what to 'speak to' and will only add to the confusion that already exists within the profession.
I am happy that GSCC is trying to protect social workers profession but as a regulator body of social workers they should do a research of social worker of colour within Local Authorities Departments across England. Reason I am saying this is I use GSCC code of practice to challenge oppressive and discriminatory behaviour of several senior social workers and manager and I ended before the committee.
Hi!
BASW speaks up for social work. You may not think it does this sufficiently or you may not agree with the way we do it, so join! BASW can speak more loudly with more members - we are dependent on membership fees (thus remaining independent of Govt and quangos). BASW is strongly supporting the idea of a College of Social Work (see BASW website www.basw.co.uk for more info or look at today's Guardian supplement on social care which has a full page on this subject). To reassure Ron above, the Task Force on which one of our BASW staff is serving does seem to have a good understanding of social work and our issues (frontline social workers form a group within it) and I think we can feel positive about their report due out at end of November.