GCU research: Inexperienced workers dealing with child and adult protection, report shows

The Herald published an article on research commissioned by the SSSC, and conducted by Glasgow Caledonian University under the headline: “Child protection cases given to newly qualified workers” (13 January 2015).

The article suggests social work students receive appropriate training and are well prepared by the academic institutions when they begin their career, but frequently struggle once out in practice because of the heavy caseloads and the lack of appropriate support and supervision to enable reflection on the work and the complex decisions made. Harry Stevenson, President of Social Work Scotland, confirmed that, “The standard of social work education was very high, and that we are proud of our workforce who do a demanding job delivering crucial support to individuals every day”. He also mentioned how efforts are being made to further consider how newly qualified social workers are introduced gradually to their responsibilities and will have protected time to enable reflection and further learning.

SASW believes that the adequate resourcing of social work departments is a political issue, as is the current environment of increasing austerity and poverty, where inequalities between the wealthy and poorest members of our society are increasing. We need to invest in social work and spend to prevent a further escalation of need, where need and vulnerability can so easily become risk and harm.

SASW commented in a letter to the Herald Editor, printed 14 January 2015, and we will elaborate on this in February’s PSW.