Minister rules out more cash to support review’s proposals

Changes to the profession recommended by the 21st Century Review of
Social Work may have to be carried out on existing resources, the
Scottish executive has confirmed.

Education and young people minister Peter Peacock said resources
alone were not the answer to problems highlighted by the review’s
interim report, but promised talks about cutting red tape.

Though he will discuss the review’s resource implications after its
final report in the autumn, he said: “It’s also about structures,
attitudes and cultures.”

He added: “We can’t continue to sustain the ever-growing demand for
services by responding in the same way as we did in the past.

“We are going to have to work smarter – share information more
effectively and prevent problems before they become crises.”

Peacock backed many of the interim report’s findings, admitting
that too much government bureaucracy was hampering social workers’
ability to practise creatively.