Independent social worker pilots due to be announced

Social Work Practices pilot studies in adult social care are due to start in summer 2011, following similar successful pilots in children’s services.

The practices will be organisations led by social workers, and independent from local authorities.

They will provide services for a specific group of adults and be responsible for carrying out the statutory duties and responsibilities of the local authority.

The programme aims to:

• give social workers more time with individuals in their care
• reduce the bureaucratic burden on individual workers
• give social workers the freedom to make decisions much closer to that of their clients, resulting in a more responsive service
• empower social workers, giving them more control over day to day management of the practice
• make use of increased financial flexibility to deliver better outcomes by stepping back and thinking creatively about the way resources are used
• make the job more enjoyable – staff satisfaction levels for the children’s pilots have been high. They feel they are very much part of a decision making team.

The programme, subject to parliamentary approval, will run for two years.
Expressions of interest from councils wanting to take part are currently being considered.

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