 John Birdsall_150.jpg "Children talk to social worker (c) John Birdsall")
It has been reported that the family justice system is under strain, with rising case volumes and lengthening case durations. The Family Justice Review was commissioned by the Ministry of Justice to examine the effectiveness of the system and the outcomes it delivers, and to make recommendations for reform. This is being conducted by a panel of experts chaired by David Norgrove.
Social workers play a crucial role in the family justice system and their voice should be heard in the development of any reforms. As the regulator of social workers and their education, Penny Thompson, GSCC Chief Executive, was asked to give evidence to the review alongside Andrew Webb, Vice Chair of the Social Work Task Force, and Paul Ennals, Chair of the Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC).
Penny spoke about the role of the GSCC in protecting the public by requiring high standards of education, conduct and practice of all social workers.
She raised concerns about the number of commissions for expert assessments, sometimes from independent social workers, who often duplicate the findings of the initial assessment done by the local authority social worker.
She said that, through improving social work education and moving towards a fitness to practise model, we can help to raise standards and competence amongst social workers, which will better support their work in the family justice system. This would help to improve the status of social workers within the court system, and avoid unnecessary duplication.
She also set out areas in which the Family Justice Review may be able to support the GSCC in better regulating the profession. For example, by discussing the possibility of making appropriate family court documents available to the GSCC when they would help investigations into misconduct.
