Scottish Social Services Strategic Forum: your chance to influence!

The Scottish Government and a wide range of partners, including SASW, have been working together on a shared vision and strategy for social services in Scotland.

The Changing Lives report came out almost a decade ago, and started a range of developments which aimed to lead to reform and improvement: “to equip social work services to rise to the challenge of supporting and protecting our most vulnerable people and communities in the early part of the 21st century”.   

The Forum, chaired by the Minister for Children and Young People Aileen Campbell MSP, wanted to keep the positive momentum of that report, while also focusing on the world today. The work of the Forum has been about the work of all people working in the “social services sector”, which is estimated at about 191,000 in Scotland.

A first report is now out for consultation, and members of the Forum have been asked to gather views, comments and suggestions from their audiences, members and groupings. SASW has tried to emphasize the unique role of the qualified social worker, the need for reflection, a code of ethics, and taking account of human rights. We are very keen to note what our members’ reaction to the document is, so please let us know by email: t.hall@basw.co.uk or call 0131 221 9445 before 5 December 2014.

We are also very keen to have the discussion with you, so if there is an opportunity to come to your work place, don’t hesitate to ask us; either now or in the New Year.