Children’s social work practice pilots to be expanded

More GP-style social work practice pilots for children are to be rolled out in the autumn as part of the government’s Big Society agenda.

The Department for Education has invited an unspecified number of councils in England to apply for funding to support social workers to set up their own independent practices.

The practices will take on responsibility for a set number of children in long-term care, with councils retaining the corporate parenting role.

Pilots have been running in Hillingdon, Kent, Liverpool, Staffordshire and Blackburn with Darwen since 2008. Four more pilots – Bristol, North Tyneside with Northumberland, Peterborough and Wakefield – were launched this year.

The effectiveness of the model is being evaluated, and the findings will influence the government’s decision on whether to roll out the scheme nationally next year.

Health secretary Andrew Lansley announced in November that social work practices are to be piloted in adults’ services this year..

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