Professional Capabilities Framework refresh - invitation to tender

Closing date 5pm on 17 March 2017

Towards the end of 2015, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) became the custodians of the PCF on behalf of the sector in England, following the closure of TCSW. A national multi-agency steering group has been set up by BASW to consider how to refresh of the PCF to ensure it is modernised, remains ‘fit for purpose’ and connects to other social work standards.

During the past few years, there have been many changes in social work education and post-qualifying training, including the publication of Knowledge and Skills Statements for both children’s and adults’ services. Reform is continuing at pace with, for instance, the development of the National Assessment and Accreditation System for children’s practitioners, a pathway developed by the DfE based on their Knowledge and Skills Statements. This is, at present, in the process of consultation and implementation is being planned.  In addition, both DfE and Department of Health (DH) have been developing specific CPD pathways for practice supervision and leadership, and other CPD pathways based on the Knowledge and Skills statements. Underpinning reform for the future, should it be enacted, is the Children and Social Work Bill which proposes, amongst other things, a new bespoke regulator for social work in England with accountability to the Secretaries of State for Health and Education, similar to models in other parts of the UK.

The current national reforms have been described by many BASW members as ‘top down’ from government rather than generated from within the profession. In this context, BASW and our partners consider it vital that the PCF continues to offer social workers across England a unifying sense of core capabilities, rooted in profession-owned values and ethics, knowledge, skills, evidence and professionalism.

Click here to read more and apply to tender for the PCF refresh.