Profession must be free of routine roles

Social workers’ time should be freed up to concentrate on their key roles and tasks if more administrators and better IT systems were used, according to experts.

The profession at its best can co-ordinate the work of other professions, families and carers to enable people to fulfil their potential, and is well suited to dealing with individuals in complex social situations, says the General Social Care Council report on the roles and tasks of social work in England.

But it also says that some organisations employing social workers have bureaucratic procedures, top-heavy managerial structures and unmanageable workloads. It adds that such employers will struggle to provide a good environment for social work practice and are likely to experience high staff turnover, sickness and vacancy rates.

The consultation is intended to help the GSCC and other social care bodies develop a statement describing the roles and tasks of social work in England that is supported by social care stakeholders. It will be submitted to ministers in the summer.

Further information

Roles and Tasks of Social Work in England

The consultation