Education secretary pushes for councils' social work 'leader'

摘要

Local authorities will be encouraged to create a new senior leadership position focused on the quality of frontline social work, education secretary Nicky Morgan has announced. Ms Morgan told delegates at the National Children and Adult Services Conference that the new role will be accountable for the quality of social work practice and be 'alert when things are going wrong'. She added that the role will 'complement' the corporate leadership role of the director of children's services. Ms Morgan said there needed to be a 'wholesale change of culture' for the profession to become more like teaching after the Local Government Association called for social work to be made into an occupation that provides opportunities for a 'rewarding and fulfilling career with good development opportunities'. Bedford BC chief executive Philip Simpkins recently warned that local authorities could not match the salaries being offered by social work agencies and some councils were 'pinching' employees from their neighbours.