Is the media starting to change its mind about social workers?
BBC TV's The One Show spent a couple of days shadowing social workers from Cheshire West and Chester's children and families team as they went about their visits.
In many ways it was a landmark broadcast. At Community Care we have our own Stand Up Now for Social Work campaign; Take a Break magazine has followed with Thank God for Social Workers; and practitioners have the ear of PR guru Max Clifford who gave good advice at Community Care Live.
But to have nine minutes on prime-time TV devoted to explaining the contribution that social workers make is surely unheard of.
The report detailed the long hours, abuse and stress that the professionals deal with, as well as the crucial decisions that sometimes have to be made on whether a child should be kept with a family or removed - and the consequences if things go wrong.
Importantly, the 30-odd page initial assessment form was show to the cameras to emphasise the paperwork mountain.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats' leader who also appeared on the programme, raised the subject of professional experience. He said there were many young social workers who may not have children but were thrust into visits where they had to work out what was going on. He was concerned about the lack of support higher up in the department as the old hands switched into managerial positions.
A sensible debate on social work at last - and in front of millions of viewers of all ages.
It is to be hoped that The One Show proves a template for media coverage of social work.
Anyhow, the full report is on BBC i-Player - but you only have six days left to view it.
You can also have your say on the programme on our CareSpace discussion forum.
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