The chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is to retire next year.
Ian Johnston will step down from the post he has held for almost 12 years in May.
He is retiring to pursue new opportunities and to spend more time at home with his family in Scotland, from where he has commuted to Birmingham since 1997.
Ronnie Barnes, chair of BASW, paid tribute to Johnston's contribution to the organisation, saying that the association has enjoyed its most sustained growth and development during the period he was in charge.
Johnston said he still had many "crucial" issues he wanted to cover in his final five months as chief executive.
