The College of Social Workers to define skilled tasks reserved only for social workers

The college has this week launched a consultation to ensure that employers make appropriate use of social workers’ skills.

The College of Social Work (TCSW) has started work to clearly define the range of skilled tasks that only social workers should do to ensure high quality social care services.

The College has described how social workers have been professionally qualified to at least a degree level to support individuals who are struggling with key life issues such as caring for family members and finding solutions to problems of mental distress of disability.

TCSW has been established to promote the professional standing of social work and ensure that employers do not send an unqualified workers to undertake a task which TCSW defines as reserved for only social workers.

TCSW Chair Jo Cleary said: “Most professions have clear definitions of the roles and tasks that only they should do. In the current economic climate it is even more important to be clear about the contribution that social work at its best can make to improving outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people, children and families in our communities.

“Public sector budget cuts are putting huge pressure on social work posts and we need to make sure that social workers are being employed to do the work that only they can do proficiently.”

TCSW will consult with its members, as well as the wider social care sector on the role and tasks of social workers and use the results to create a range of reserved task activities for social workers to have sole responsibility to complete.

Ms Cleary continued: “The College is gathering evidence that investment in social work for a wide range of roles can be a more effective use of public money. Investing in the right professionals up front may actually save costs further down the line as well as delivering better outcomes for children, families, vulnerable people and communities."

The tasks have been listed in the college’s advice note ‘Roles and Tasks Requiring Social Workers.’

This is the first time that a list of activities reserved for only social workers has been attempted and its creation has been seen to represent a growing recognition of the value social work has in delivering high quality and effective care services.

Within the advice note it was discussed how social workers have the professional resources and knowledge to find an effective community solution for vulnerable adults at the risk of neglect or abuse requiring social care.

It was also argued that an inappropriate use of unqualified staff can lead to poor outcomes for people who need social care and result in high statutory care costs due to higher rates of hospitalisation.

The proposed list of reserved tasks include working with service users to help them decide their own social care needs and assistance to allow them to live in the community without needing institutional care.

In TCSW’s paper on social work with adults in 2012, it was outlined how the use of social workers could save money for local authorities who are spending too much on residential care for people who could live independently when given the right support.

The paper argued that by giving social workers a main role in assessment and community development, they will be able to assist vulnerable adults to live independently by having a deeper knowledge of them, their family and the community care they need.

This could be in the form of home care assistance which will allow the adults to live as independently as possible without being at risk of abuse or neglect.