10 February 2006
The biggest shake-up of social services in 40 years has been announced by the Scottish minister for education and young people, Peter Peacock.
Responding to the recommendations set out by a Scottish Executive-commissioned review, he announced plans to set national priorities for social work, develop and improve professional standards and invest in leadership.
The review was carried out following some high-profile cases that resulted in social workers being strongly criticised.
Peacock said: 'We need to take radical and comprehensive action to transform our social services sector.'
The role of chief social workers will be strengthened and more responsibility will be devolved to frontline social workers.
So-called
'para-professionals' — similar to classroom assistants and working under the direction of social workers — will be appointed.
Willie Roe, chair of the review group, stressed: 'Social work must change to meet our expectations of high-quality, accessible, personalised services that are equipped to respond to increasingly complex problems.'
PFfeb2006
