Delegates at last week's National Children and Adult Services Conference in Bournemouth were the first to see the report, which aims to show how social work can contribute to improving care services for both children and adults.
But Colin Green, director of children, learning and young people at Coventry City Council, said the GSCC needs "to set the bar much higher than it does at present". Another delegate described the document as "a bit wet" and said it wasn't demanding enough.
The report outlines what social work is, when it is needed, who receives its support, the tasks of social work and how practitioners work with other professions. It also has a section on policy framework, which describes what social work "at its best" can do for service users.
For children, it says social work can help the state to be a better parent, safeguard vulnerable children, turn children away from antisocial behaviour, confront them with the consequences of their actions and help them change their behaviour.
Tony Howell, strategic director of children, young people and families at Birmingham City Council, said: "One of the issues that made a significant difference with the schools workforce was the differentiation between learning and the role of teacher: that there are other people who contribute to learning. This report doesn't say that other people contribute to social work. I would want this document to reflect that."
Jane Haywood, chief executive of the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC), who was involved in drafting the document, said: "I think useful points and messages about raising the bar on expectations are important. This document needs to speak to people who are not social workers but are working out what the role of social work can be for children and young people. We need to work out who is going to use this document."
The GSCC is leading on the report, with contributions from the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Social Care Institute for Excellence, Skills for Care and the CWDC.
- www.gscc.org.uk
THE GSCC ON THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS
- Investigate and act when needed to safeguard children and families from abuse or neglect
- Assess risks and plan responses if a child may harm themselves or others, or where there is a need to remove a child from their parents
- Intervene where there is a risk of family breakdown that could threaten wellbeing
- Intervene where parents are unable to look after children
- Provide help where people are considered as foster parents or adopters.
