Over the last decade or so I have been increasingly concerned at the way that established social casework methods and values are being eroded and all but lost to the endless drive to case manage and latterly fulfil endless performance targets.
I would suggest that many of the recent serious case enquiries are a direct result of social work having allowed its eye to be taken off the ball, distracted by the need to satisfy ever more hungry managers concerned to keep their jobs in the face of ever increasing government demands for us to chase targets for them.
Why and how has social work lost its way towards the professionalism that was aspired to when I first trained? Nowadays we are merely seen as case managers and some councils are beginning to employ unqualified staff for this task - as if the skills we used to offer are of no value any more.
There have been some academic articles on this theme in recent years, but little sign of a lively debate. I wonder if newly qualified social workers even are aware of the older values, so if nothing is done the traditional skills and understanding will soon be lost.
I would suggest that many of the recent serious case enquiries are a direct result of social work having allowed its eye to be taken off the ball, distracted by the need to satisfy ever more hungry managers concerned to keep their jobs in the face of ever increasing government demands for us to chase targets for them.
Why and how has social work lost its way towards the professionalism that was aspired to when I first trained? Nowadays we are merely seen as case managers and some councils are beginning to employ unqualified staff for this task - as if the skills we used to offer are of no value any more.
There have been some academic articles on this theme in recent years, but little sign of a lively debate. I wonder if newly qualified social workers even are aware of the older values, so if nothing is done the traditional skills and understanding will soon be lost.
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