Family court documents
June 2010
Some of our conduct hearings have demonstrated that the mishandling of family court papers is increasingly becoming an issue that we need to be more mindful about.

Sector developments
June 2010
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.

Consulting about the role of the proposed College of Social Work
June 2010
One of the recommendations of the social work taskforce was that an independent national college of social work should be established. As a result, SCIE was asked to establish a development group and this group has just published a consultation paper about the purpose and functions of the proposed college. All social workers are invited to contribute to the debate at www.collegeofsocialwork.org

Social Work Connections readership survey results
March 2010
We recently carried out a survey about Social Work Connections with you, our readers. We asked what you found interesting about the newsletter and what you would like us to focus on in the future.

Next steps for PRTL
March 2010
Every social worker registered with the GSCC needs to keep their skills and knowledge up-to-date. That is why you have to establish - at the three-yearly renewal point - that you have done 90 hours of post registration training and learning (PRTL). That is a minimum requirement - indeed, most social workers report learning hours well in excess of 90 on their renewal form.

Involving people who use social work services
March 2010
Engagement with people who have experience of using social work services has been part of GSCC strategy since its creation in 2001. In 2005 we published Seen and Heard which emphasised the right of people who use services and carers to "influence, advise, direct and validate the GSCC's policies and services".

Public protection and conduct
March 2010
Assessing risk and taking steps to minimise it is something that social workers do every day. It can be a complex and difficult task. Social workers need to weigh up a wide range of factors before deciding on a course of action that is both proportionate and ensures the safety of service users and those around them.

NQSWs and career structures - what you told us
March 2010
Your responses to the poll in our December newsletter showed that a majority of you felt that the newly qualified social workers (NQSW) you had worked with lacked key skills when entering the workplace.

A social work student reflects on her placements
March 2010
In this issue of Social Work Connections we asked a recent graduate to reflect on the placements that she undertook as part of her social work degree.

Report launched into raising standards in social work education
March 2010
Earlier this month the GSCC published Raising Standards: Social work education in England 2008-2009, its annual report on the overall picture of social work education and training in England. The report shows that five years on from the introduction of the social work degree over 10,000 students have graduated. However, the report also reveals that only eight per cent of social workers are taking up post-qualifying (PQ) training courses, which once again raises concerns about opportunities employers provide for training and development of social workers.