TRAINING
Eighty per cent of social workers believe the social work degree does not adequately equip them to work with people with mental health problems, according to a survey by the General Social Care Council (GSCC).
The poll was part of a wider study on the social care workforce's learning and development needs in relation to mental health, undertaken by independent health and social care consultant Melanie Henwood on behalf of Skills for Care and Skills for Health.
It reveals a level of concern about the degree that cannot be ignored, says Henwood, a former vice-chair of the GSCC.
"What comes across very strongly is practitioners don't think the degree is adequate in this area," she says.
"But it's a finding that needs to be investigated in greater depth."
While social workers can choose to specialise in mental health, there is increased recognition of the need for basic training for all of those going into children's services.
Children's workers deal with parents with mental health problems on a daily basis as well as working with children and young people in mental distress.
Yet it is an area where practitioners feel ill-prepared, says Henwood, whose research has included in-depth interviews with social workers.
"Social workers want to be able to understand what they're seeing when they come into contact with people in mental distress. They want to know what to do, when to make referrals," she says.
"They need the skills and confidence to deal with difficult situations but, unfortunately, many don't have these skills and that must be explored."
The Social Work Reform Board has been looking into the content of social work courses.
While there is a clear demand for more training on mental health, it is jostling for attention with other key areas such as relationship breakdown, parenting, violence and abuse, and physical ill-health and disability.
Meanwhile, Henwood says there is also a need to improve mental health placements and to look at additional training as part of continuing professional development.
Getting people with experience of mental illness involved in shaping services and training social workers has made a big difference to the profession in recent years, she believes.
"There is concern in the current financial climate that some of this work may be in jeopardy," she says.
"Whatever happens with social work education and training, people with experience of mental health problems must be at the forefront."
REGULATION
The GSCC and the Care Quality Commission have signed an agreement setting out how they will work together to protect the users of health and social care services in England.
The memorandum of understanding sets out areas of co-operation between the two regulators, including sharing concerns and information about individual social workers and services.
Protecting the public
GSCC chief executive Penny Thompson said the agreement would help both organisations work more effectively to safeguard the public.
"We will ensure that we share information that comes to light through the course of investigations into allegations against individual social workers or environments of care at the earliest possible stage," she said.
"The government has proposed that our functions be transferred to the Health Professions Council by 2012. Right up until this happens, we are determined to protect the public by regulating social work as well as we possibly can."
The memorandum of understanding runs for 12 months and will be reviewed 10 months into the agreement.
