Any move to split the training of social workers into adults and children and families (news, p7, 17th May) would be disastrous. The three-year degree has produced only one set of graduates so it is absurdly premature for Andrew Christie to criticise the quality of training.
In how many child protection cases has there been involvement of teams working with the mental health or substance misuse problems of the parents where the needs of the children were invisible to the workers? What is needed is a whole-family approach which spans children and adult services. The Parental Mental Health and Child Welfare Network, which Social Perspectives Network is now running and the Family Nurse Partnership pilots are illustrations of bridging initiatives, of which we need more.
Social work is its own worst enemy. Richard Littlejohn doesn't worry me but those within the social work family advocating a separate training are pursuing a dangerous line.
Terry Bamford
Director
Social Perspectives Network
Home | Privacy policy | Terms and conditions | Printer friendly
Site built by Net Efficiency Ltd