The second phase of a project led by the General Social Care Council (GSCC) which will describe the roles, tasks and value of social work will be launched on 15 January with the publication of a literature review , the report of a preparatory stakeholder event held in November and the announcement of a series of inquiry events.

The ‘roles and tasks of social work’ project has been commissioned by the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills and follows on from the Options for Excellence: Building a Social Care Workforce for the Future review.

Lynne Berry, GSCC Chief Executive said: “Social work is facing change and challenges. This project will help define social work as a profession with a valuable contribution to make in the 21st Century. Services users are at the heart of social care services and will help shape the conclusions of the project.

“The GSCC is proud to have been asked to lead this important part of the social care improvement agenda and will work closely with our partners to achieve the ambitions of Options for Excellence. We want to ensure that a national debate about the future of social work begins now so that when the formal consultation is launched at the beginning of March we get a strong and wide ranging response.

“By developing the new degree and post-qualifying training, by registering all social workers in England and enforcing the Code of Practice for Social Care Workers, we have helped lay the foundations of a skilled and trusted workforce on which this project will build.”

Ivan Lewis, Minister for Social Care said; “Social work has made rapid progress to become a well-trained and accountable profession committed to upholding the highest standards. This project will help realise the government’s vision for the future of the profession, working with people who use social care services to increase well-being and promote dignity.”