It's back to the future for social work training reforms

It was an interesting and enjoyable exercise for me to read Sir Martin Narey's recent report on the future of children's social work, and his recommendations for change. Until the summer of 2012, I chaired the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), which delivered government policies relating to the children's workforce, including social workers, so the issues Martin explores are very familiar.

The debates and disagreements, too, are familiar. It is often said there are no new ideas in the world, only reworked old ones. But ideas need to come forward at the right time, in a certain way, to catch on. All five areas of the report cover areas I recall discussing with previous ministers, in a different time. Much of the substance of his recommendations I recall CWDC suggesting to civil servants and ministers, behind the scenes, and overall we found the forces of resistance to change were simply too strong.