CSE responsibilities clarified in social workers' skills test

The move follows a public consultation on the contents of the Knowledge and Skills Statement, drawn up by chief social worker Isabelle Trowler.

In the initial version the statement outlined that social workers should be able to recognise the risk indicators of different forms of harm to children “including sexual, physical and emotional abuse and neglect”, but failed to make explicit reference to CSE.

The final version has been amended to set out that social workers should “consider the possibility of child sexual exploitation” as one of a range of adult behaviours that can pose a risk to children.

The change is one of a number to be made to the final document, the contents of which will form the basis of a “rigorous” pass or fail test that newly qualified social workers will need to undertake at the end of their first year in post to become an “approved child and family practitioner”.

The government response to the consultation reveals that of 104 people who took part, 63 per cent felt there were additional things that should be set out in the statement.

Meanwhile, one in three respondents felt the statement may be too tough, stating that there were parts of it that are not set at the right level for a child and family social worker to be able to know or do at the end of their first year.

This compares to 32 per cent stating that they did believe it was set at the right level, with 17 per cent unsure.

One in ten respondents said the fact that the statement was mainly focused on specific roles within statutory child and family social work could mean that to social workers based outside of statutory services may not being able to gain sufficient experience of the knowledge and skills included in the statement.

Isabelle Trowler, chief social worker for children and families, said: “These are challenging times to be a social worker. Much is expected and focus on effectiveness is rightly sharp.

"There is life-saving, life enhancing social work going on all the time in the most difficult of circumstances. We expect our social workers to be skilled and wise to meet the challenges.

“The statement also clarifies what others should expect of us. It should give us, our employers and the children and families with whom we work confidence in us as professionals, in our practice, the risks we manage and the decisions we make.”

Children’s minister Edward Timpson said: “Our extensive programme of reform will make sure social workers are supported every single step of the way in undertaking what is an incredibly challenging – but vital – job in caring for some of our most vulnerable children and families.”