A study considered how the Care Standards Act 2000, and related regulations and national minimum standards, were being used to tackle skill deficiencies in the social care sector in England, particularly through training activity at national vocational qualification levels 2 and 3. It was found that the new regulatory framework was changing employers attitudes and behaviour regarding training and skills, both directly and indirectly.
Source: Howard Gospel and Mike Thompson, The Role and Impact of the Statutory Framework for Training in the Social Care Sector, Research Report 495, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Report (pdf) | Brief (pdf)
Date: 2003-Nov
The government began consultation on plans to make it an offence in England and Wales for anyone to use the title 'social worker' unless they were qualified to do so and were officially registered. It said the legislation would raise the status of social work, reinforce a consistent set of professional values, and help to safeguard the public from bogus social workers.
Source: Promoting the Status of Social Work: Consultation on the timetable to implement protection of the title 'social worker', Department of Health (08701 555455)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | DH press release | GSCC press release
Date: 2003-Oct
A report said that difficulties in retaining social workers were causing a lack of continuity and consistency in care services. The social sector was likely to lose a high proportion of its staff over the next ten years, as nearly 3 in 10 public sector workers had reached their 50s. At the same time the sector would need to expand to meet growing demand. The report identified possible solutions to the retention problem, including a reduction in bureaucracy; the provision of support to retrain or refocus existing staff; and more emphasis on qualifications, training and development to help staff progress professionally.
Source: Andrea Rowe, Should I Stay or Should I Go?, Topss England (0113 245 1716)
Links: Community Care article
Date: 2003-Sep
A new book used detailed research to illustrate the disillusionment of social workers with care management responsibilities.
Source: Helen Gorman and Karen Postle, Transforming Community Care: A distorted vision?, Venture Press, available from British Association of Social Workers (0121 622 3911)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2003-Apr
A survey explored working conditions in children s homes in England, as experienced by care staff and their managers. Its findings challenged the perception that most care workers suffered from low morale.
Source: Amanda Mainey, Better Than You Think: Staff morale, qualifications and retention in residential child care, National Children s Bureau (020 7843 6029)
Links: Summary | Guardian report
Date: 2003-Apr