Less than two weeks to respond to PCF review – your input counts

BASW England is urging all social workers, from across the sector, to respond to the review on the impact and effectiveness of The Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF).

Introduced by the Social Work Taskforce in 2010, the PCF outlines the capabilities (knowledge, skills and values) social workers need at different stages of their careers, in order to deliver high practice standards.

The College of Social Work (TCSW) is currently reviewing the PCF on a very short timescale. Social workers have less than two weeks to respond to the online consultation.

BASW members can provide a joint response by emailing BASW professional officer Nushra Mansuri n.mansuri@basw.co.uk, who will collate all the answers and send on behalf of members.

There is a user-friendly version of the survey available HERE which gives an overview of the questions.

In addition, members are also encouraged to submit individual responses online HERE

The consultation asks social workers to identify ways in which the PCF can be ‘refreshed’ to work with a number of emerging “additional standards, statements, curriculum guidance and expectations”.

Commenting on the call to members, Nushra Mansuri said: “The PCF was a major piece of work produced by the sector itself including BASW which was a partner organisation under the umbrella of the Social Work Reform Board.

"Some of our members have already voiced concerns that the review and any proposals to change it are premature given that it hasn’t even had the chance to be fully embedded in both pre and post qualifying training and education for social workers.  It is therefore, vitally important that the profession make its views known on any suggested changes. 

“The online survey itself does not allow for free flowing narrative but BASW England’s response will contain more qualitative comments so please don’t feel inhibited from fully expressing your views to us. We look forward to hearing from you and urge you to share this with any interested colleagues and networks but please do it quickly as we only have until the 24 June to respond .”