Grassroots social work body pitches to hold college resources

The grassroots body of social workers that came together following the closure of the College of Social Work is looking to form a legal “holding” company to safeguard college resources and assets.

A statement from the Social Workers Assembly to the college’s elected members, meeting today, said the majority view of the more than 300 members was to form a legal body that could “hold” college resources. This would give the profession more time to decide for itself the next stage for the development of social work in the UK.

The decision of frontline social workers came with a clear commitment to volunteer time in order to achieve this, it added.

Successor to the college

The statement went on: “We are looking to form a body that has a clear understandable offer that matches what workers have told us they want. That can be a springboard to a successor body if that is what is wanted by the majority of social workers.

“It can safeguard key assets such as the PCF for the long term, continuing the development work to ensure they remain a valuable tool in practice.”

A survey of members had highlighted the key assets as: the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF), the Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE), continuing professional development resources, including the e-portfolio, the online networks including the principal social worker group and communities of interest, publications and carer and progression information as well as practice guidance.

Need for a majority view

The move follows a special meeting of the council of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) this week which confirmed the association was willing to enter discussions with the college over the transfer of resources.

The statement from the Social Workers Assembly acknowledged there was a vocal, minority within the assembly who were of the view all college assets should be transferred to BASW.

However, a spokesperson for the group said the assembly’s aim was to find out from the majority of social workers what they wanted before decisions were made.

Keep up to date with developments following the closure of the College of Social Work with our dedicated page.