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‘Hundreds of social workers left in limbo’: BASW and unions urge action on fitness to practise delays

Community Care

Hundreds of social workers in England are being “left in limbo”, often unable to work, because of long and increasing delays in fitness to practise (FTP) cases. Information that could clear the social worker was “not considered or overlooked” even when drawn to the attention of investigators, the bodies added.

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From care management to ‘social work as we know it’: Lyn Romeo on her decade as chief social worker

Community Care

Since Lyn Romeo announced her retirement in October last year , the tributes to the now former chief social worker for adults from across the profession have been warm and fulsome. Lyn Romeo is without a doubt a social worker for social workers! Will be hugely missed by many and certainly me.

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No evidence scheme placing social workers in schools reduces need for social care, says What Works

Community Care

A scheme placing social workers in schools does not reduce children’s need for statutory social care services, one of the largest ever randomised controlled trials carried out in the sector has found. No impact on social care outcomes It found that the rate of section 47s was 5.5%

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DfE backs early career framework but rejects national pay scales for children’s social workers

Community Care

The Department for Education (DfE) has backed a care review proposal for a five-year early career framework (ECF) for the development of children’s social workers, but rejected its call to introduce national pay scales to recognise progress. “We do not intend to create new DfE-led pay scales.

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Social worker changes undermined engagement with children later convicted of violent crimes – review

Community Care

High levels of social worker turnover undermined engagement with six young people with histories of social care involvement who were later convicted of violent offences, a review has found. Find out more from the contextual safeguarding team based at Durham University, headed by Firmin.

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How social workers can improve support for the ‘silent and unheard majority’ of kinship carers

Community Care

By Ann Horne, kinship consultant, CoramBAAF. They have not made a proactive choice to become a foster carer or adopter, but find themselves in a situation, not of their own choosing, but wishing to safeguard a child they love. Kinship carers are motivated by love, commitment and, sometimes, a sense of family or cultural duty.

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Councils selected to test specialist child protection social workers

Community Care

Three councils have been selected to test giving responsibility for child protection cases to specialist social workers. Meanwhile, councils would be encouraged to refer families to FGCs from early help onwards, under proposed changes to Working Together, which are currently out to consultation.