Scottish review less radical than mooted

 The year-long review of social work in Scotland is likely to shy away from recommending radical reform of the profession, Community Care has learned.

Sources close to the review say its final report and recommendations – presented to ministers before Christmas – have not called for an overhaul of social work departments, or of social workers’ training and roles, as some had expected.

The review’s interim findings, published in April 2005, were criticised by social work and council leaders for saying bureaucracy was preventing social workers forging better relationships with clients.

Colin MacKenzie, president of the Association of Directors of Social Work and a member of the review group, said it would be “more about reconfiguration than reorganisation”.

The review’s final report and the Scottish executive’s response are due to be published on 30 January.