CWDC ponders advanced children’s social worker role

The Children’s Workforce Development Council is consulting on plans for a new advanced social worker status in children’s services.

The CWDC has written to all children’s services directors in England to ask for their views, in particular what it would mean for practitioners taking on the role and whether it should be related to a qualification or status.

The advanced social worker status would complement the newly-qualified social worker programme, which is being piloted in September, in line with the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ aim of creating better career pathways for the profession.

Keith Brumfitt, director of strategy at the CWDC, told Community Care: “These are early days for the development of the idea.

“We are holding national meetings this month to look at the newly qualified social work project and will also consider the advanced practitioner idea.”

The DCSF is committed to working with the CWDC to develop a professional development framework for social workers in children’s services, setting out standards expected at different career stages, and providing “incentives for advanced social workers to remain on the front line.”

The proposal was included in a 10-year workforce action plan, Building Brighter Futures: Next Steps for the Children’s Workforce, published as part of the Children’s Plan six weeks ago.  

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Essential information on the social care workforce

External information

CWDC information on NQSW programme