The Social Work Reform Board report, 'Building a Safe and Confident Future: Implementing the Recommendations of the Social Work Task Force' was published in March, providing a route map for improving social work. The GSCC is playing a central role in informing these plans and is now involved in developing the assessed year in employment, a licence to practise, and a new standard for employers. These initiatives will bring about major changes in the way we regulate, which we believe will have a positive impact on your status and reputation as social workers.
The White Paper - 'Building the National Care Service' - was also published in March. The Paper proposed that the GSCC's remit should be focused on regulation of the social work profession and that the Health Profession's Council should pilot a licensing system for social care workers, alongside healthcare support workers. While there is no doubt that some form of regulation is needed for other parts of the social care workforce, the GSCC believes that it is right that social workers should have a regulator for their profession, as exists for each of the other major professions. The White Paper also proposed that the GSCC should become independent of government and move to financial independence over time.
The new government - Andrew Lansley MP has been appointed as Secretary of State at the Department of Health, GSCC's sponsor department, with Paul Burstow MP as Minister of State for Care Services. We also work closely with the Department for Education, which has replaced the Department of Children, Schools and Families. Michael Gove MP has been appointed Secretary of State for Education and Tim Loughton MP as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families. We look forward to working with the new Government in taking forward the reform agenda for the profession.
