Government warned to keep 'hands off' social work college

The final report of the Social Work Taskforce, which ministers accepted in full, recommended that the government provide "logistical support" to establish the college, including funding.

But Hilton Dawson, chief executive of BASW, told CYP Now that government money comes with too many "strings attached".

"We’re very sceptical about the role of government," he said. "We want them to keep their hands off."

Dawson denied that BASW wants to run the national college, claiming the organisation should be led by and answerable to social workers alone.

But he said BASW had offered to lend its organisational support to the government, to get the college up and running. He claimed this offer had fallen on "stony ground".

"This isn’t about BASW owning the college, it’s about making the college accountable to social workers," he said.

Dawson admitted that the creation of the college could threaten BASW’s future.

He said: "If we get the college that social work needs then there is an issue about whether BASW continues to exist as it currently is. But that’s for members to decide, the first thing we’ve got to do is get a proper college that does an effective job."

A spokeswoman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families claimed officials are "mindful of the need for the college to speak with a voice that is independent of government and other interests".  

She explained: "We are working to engage all parties in establishing the college and its functions. BASW, with a membership of some 12.5 per cent of social workers, is a key partner in this work, as are the other membership organisations that represent social workers.

"We are also particularly keen to engage the approximately 50 per cent of practitioners who are not currently members of any representative organisation."

BASW is to meet with government and other key stakeholders to discuss the future of the college before Christmas.