The Need for Social Work Intervention: A Discussion Paper for the Scottish 21st Century Social Work Review

INTRODUCTION

This Discussion Paper is a contribution to the work of the Review set up by the Scottish Executive to examine social work in the 21 ^st Century, which is due to report in the summer of 2005. The remit for the paper is 'to draw together evidence and perspectives on the need for social work intervention in the modern world…to explore definitions of need from the perspective of users and providers and to consider how these definitions are interpreted in practice'.

Specific aims are to:

• explore and compare definitions of need as ascribed to user groups from the perspective of user groups, local authority providers and independent sector providers;
• identify the evidence base for the validity of these definitions;
• critically examine how these definitions are interpreted in the provision of social care services for user groups and for individual service users;
• identify key issues for consideration by the 21 ^st Century Social Work Group.

In announcing the review, the Minister for Education and Young People described the harrowing circumstances revealed in reports investigating the physical and sexual abuse, over 30 years, of four people with learning disabilities and the 'catalogue of failures within social work and health services in the Borders'. Accepting the reports' recommendations, the Minister said 'We need to look beyond this particular case and take a more fundamental look at social work…There are social workers all across Scotland doing excellent work in very challenging circumstances and we are investing heavily in the profession. But it is clear we must go beyond what we are already doing - social work legislation dates back to the sixties and expectations are very different in the 21 ^st Century. We need to be clear with the profession what we expect of them and allow them to strengthen their contribution in the modern era.'

Responding to the debate on Social Work in the Scottish Parliament on 1 July 2004, Deputy Minister for Education and Young People, Euan Robson, said of the Review:

'First, we must ask what is the core purpose of social work in modern Scotland. Is it care and welfare of individuals? Is it protection of vulnerable people, whatever their vulnerability? Is it promotion of social inclusion? Is it about enabling people to fulfil their potential and make the most of their talents? I think that social work might be about some or all of those things, but we need to set out our priorities.

'Secondly, how can we best deliver services? Local government faces a complex and demanding task in delivering social work services. We must strengthen partnerships across the sector………That means we must identify what actions the Executive might take to remove the obstacles that prevent social workers and their partners, whether in the public or voluntary sectors, from delivering integrated services.

'The third key element of 21 ^st century social work is that essential services must have clear lines of accountability……….

'We have begun the task of ensuring that a profession that has perhaps been neglected in the past has a positive and bright future. We must do that for the people of Scotland and for the most vulnerable citizens in our land so that we can improve their prospects and make the best of their potential and their talents in a Scotland that has a declining population and where we cannot afford to waste the talents and potential of any individual.'

In preparing and consulting on this discussion paper, the project team examined Scottish policy documents on social work services for children, adults and families and the development needs of the workforce, compared some of the policy material from elsewhere in the UK, and surveyed a selection of the relevant research evidence. The Executive helpfully made available papers and minutes from meetings of the Social Work Review Team and the sub-group on the role of the social worker, as well as the commissioned literature review and other background material.

Members of the project team attended meetings of the Review Team and the sub-group, made presentations of work in progress, tested out ideas and received very useful feedback. These encounters also ensured the project's work on the need for social work intervention kept in step with the work on the social work role and the wider Review, and enabled helpful exchange of information and ideas.

To help the team gather the perspectives of front-line practitioners, Glasgow City Council Social Work Department arranged a valuable meeting with a group of social workers, seniors and team leaders from a variety of children's, adults' and older people's teams. The team also had sight of papers from the very interesting and imaginative work of the service user reference group. Drafts of the summary and the main report were sent to a number of people including members of the stakeholder group and people from user-led and voluntary organisations, and useful verbal and written feedback was received. A further presentation and discussion took place with a range of stakeholder interests at a Dundas Castle conversation event arranged by the Scottish Centre for Social Work Excellence at Dundee University.