Where’s social work voice in Scotland’s revised National Care Service plan?

The Scottish Association of Social Work has voiced concerns about the diminished influence of social work in recent revisions to the National Care Service Bill.

The association says key provisions it supported have been removed, namely, establishing the role of chief social work adviser and creating a National Social Work Agency.

A spokesperson said: “These would have strengthened social work’s voice in government by enshrining both in law irrespective of which party was in power.”

In January, social care minister Maree Todd announced current plans for a National Care Service (NCS) would be scrapped due to 'lack of support', adding: “I have concluded that we must deliver our Scottish national care service without legislating for structural reform, securing a different means to deliver our goals.”

Revised plans will see any future NCS taking shape without the sweeping structural reforms that proposed adult social care move out of the responsibility of local councils and into the hands of regional care boards.

SASW was amongst those opposing these reforms, which were met with widespread opposition. This resulted in a government climbdown where the NCS would have shared accountability between government, the NHS and councils, with authorities retaining control of adult social care and the staff employed and reporting to a new NCS board.

Local government body COSLA withdrew its support, and last month, the government said the care board and all previously proposed structural reforms had been scrapped.

The future of the proposed national social work agency is now in question - it was originally intended to oversee social work education, professional development, and workforce planning.

The Scottish government has acknowledged there is a need to “future-proof reform” and said: “We all believe we must work differently. We must work in partnership to drive lasting improvements that support the vital role of social workers across Scotland.”

SASW says it will continue to push for equal access to social care across the nation and will advocate for a strengthened Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser and the establishment of an Executive Agency. 

The association emphasised geographic inconsistencies in service across Scotland that currently mean rural areas are not adequately served.

In a statement, SASW said: “The current commissioning model places all financial and business continuity risks on care providers, making it nearly impossible for many to operate in rural locations. This must change if long neglected rural services are to meet the needs of their populations.”

SASW has pledged to lobby for “the best possible version” of the Bill, and to “scrutinise any subsequent proposals.”

Alison Bavidge, national director of SASW, said: “The social work profession in Scotland should be seen and experienced as a single public service profession with duties beyond those due to its employers. 

“We still believe that the plan to establish the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser and an Executive Agency, with the intention to partner with local authorities and Social Work Scotland, is the clearest route and best opportunity to create that greater consistency and continuous improvement in social work across Scotland.”