England to have social work review

England is to have an inquiry  into the role of social workers, modelled on similar reviews in Scotland and Wales. 

The General Social Care Council-led inquiry was announced today, alongside the long-awaited launch of the report from the government’s Options for Excellence review into the social care workforce, at the National Children and Adult Services Conference.

GSCC chief executive Lynne Berry said the inquiry would be England’s equivalent of the 21st Century Social Work Review  and last year’s Welsh social work review carried out by the Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru.

She said it would define the core role of social work in a context of increasing user empowerment and multi-disciplinary working.

Options for Excellence included a commitment to examine the links between pay and rewards and recruitment, retention and service outcomes.

But, speaking at the launch of the report, care services minister Ivan Lewis said no commitments could be given in this area ahead of next year’s comprehensive spending review.