Welcome for draft code of conduct

The councillor overseeing the UK’s largest
social services department says continued reference to the Victoria
Climbie inquiry threatens to overshadow the introduction of the new
code of conduct for social workers.

Susanna McCorry, Birmingham Council cabinet
member for social services and health was speaking after the
introduction of new draft guidelines for social care staff from the
General Social Care Council (News Analysis, page 20, 10
January).

McCorry said people should not concentrate on
a few high-profile cases where the system has clearly failed and
only talk of the potential for failing social workers to be “struck
off”.

“It is absolutely right that standards are
upheld,” she says. “This is about giving recognition to the
professional nature of social care work. It is professional work
that makes a real difference to the quality of life of thousands of
people in this city every hour of every day of the year.”

– Health minister Jacqui Smith has welcomed
the GSCC’s draft code of conduct describing it as an important step
towards increasing public protection and raising standards of
social care.

“People working in social care carry out
excellent work every day and work with some of the most vulnerable
people in society. The new codes of practice will help to ensure
that they deliver a continuous high standard of care and are
supported to do their jobs effectively.”

She urged social care to contribute to the new
standards by responding to the GSCC consultation.

– See www.codes-consultation.co.uk