Gove promises support for taskforce recommendations

The government will support the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force, education secretary Michael Gove has said.

Gove confirmed the coalition’s commitment to overhaul the social work profession in England in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

In March the Labour government announced a 10-year plan to reform the profession’s training, quality and status.

Gove’s announcement will come as a relief to many in the sector who had expressed concern at the coalition’s lack of public commitment to the 15 taskforce recommendations.

In the House of Commons, Gove praised the work of his predecessor, Ed Balls, who had taken “constructive steps to help social workers in the vital task that they perform”.

“The coalition government will build on his initiative in this area, in particular taking forward the recommendations of the Social Work Task Force,” he added.

The reform programme is being overseen by the Social Work Reform Board, chaired by Moira Gibb, who also chaired the taskforce.

The Department for Education has also confirmed that children’s minister Tim Loughton will be responsible for social work reform.

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