National Care Service - social work: contextual paper

1. Introduction

The intention of this paper is to describe the current status of social work in Scotland. It is part of a collection of papers, setting out key information related to the development of the National Care Service (see Annex 1). The collection includes evidence papers on Children’s Social Services and Justice Social Work in Scotland, which provide much of the data referenced in this report.

This paper will articulate the important contributions from social workers and advocate for a transformation across the social work sector to ensure alignment of services with the underlying principles and values, skills and knowledge social workers possess.

Given the right circumstances, social work can play a unique and crucial role in delivering a fairer, equitably and socially just Scotland. Social work, when enabled to do so, is focused on creating the circumstances for people’s assets and strengths to be seen as opportunities and provides a foundation for systems ready to support those with vulnerabilities.

As a contextual paper it will set out the historical background of social work, as well as the existing structures and functions that impact on how social work is practiced and delivered.

While the focus of this paper is social work, there are intrinsic links with health and social care. In terms of the differences between social work and social care, social work is the statutorily prescribed role which involves assessing need, managing risk, and promoting and protecting the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Social care support is an umbrella term for adult, children’s and justice services that directly support people to meet their personal outcomes. ‘Social services’ is a term which applies to social work and social care services together.