Roles and Tasks of social work

Social Work at its best: The roles and tasks of social workers

The General Social Care Council, working in partnership with the Commission for Social Care Inspection, the Social Care Institute for Excellence, the Children’s Workforce Development Council and Skills for Care, has been working for some time on a statement defining the roles and tasks of social work. Since this work started, the policy agenda for social care has moved on significantly and in particular, the Government has published Putting People First, on the transformation of adult social care and the Children’s Plan, which sets direction for children’s services.

In the light of these developments, the Government has welcomed the joint statement on the roles and tasks of social work and has asked that it be used as a source document for the development of the social care bodies’ strategic work and noted that further work which will be needed to align the content of the statement with the emerging workforce strategies for adult and children’s services.

Mike Wardle, Chief Executive of the General Social Care Council, said:

“We are really pleased that the Government is going to use this statement on the roles and tasks of social work as source material for further work in delivering the aspirations of Putting People First and the Children's Plan.

Social work has a crucial role in the delivery of good outcomes for people and communities. The statement reflects the role of social work in addressing complex issues in people’s lives through building positive relationships with them. It also sets out central role that social work plays in working alongside other professionals.

The study responds to the desire of social workers to get out from behind their desks and spend more of their time in face to face work with the people who need their help and support. It reflects the views of people who use services that they want the support of social workers who are free to help them to find their own ways of overcoming the challenges they face.”

Useful documents for information

• Social Work at its best: The roles and tasks of social workers (PDF 80 KB) 
• Social Work at its best: The roles and tasks of social workers: Easy read version (PDF 1.38 MB) 
• Access the CONSULTATION PAPER (PDF 112 KB)
• Executive summary (PDF 37 KB)
• Report on November 2006 Reference Group (PDF 370 KB)
• The Changing Roles And Tasks Of Social Work: A literature informed discussion paper (PDF 279 KB)
• Changing Roles and Tasks of Social Work - Services Users' Perspectives (PDF 227 KB)
• Social Work with Children (PDF 31 KB)
• Social work and civil contingencies (PDF 13 KB)
• The Roles and Tasks of Social Work Summary of 30.11.06 Reference Group (Powerpoint 62 KB)
• PeopleFirst report 28-2-07 (PDF 44 KB)
• Report Birmingham AI event - Part 1 (PDF 189 KB)
• Report Birmingham AI event - Part 2 (PDF 189 KB)
• Report Bristol AI event (PDF 290 KB)
• Report Manchester AI event  (PDF 263 KB)
• Shaping Our Lives report 28-2-07 (PDF 78 KB)
• Report London AI event (PDF 227 KB)