The Government should scrap plans for an accreditation scheme for social workers because it would take up time that could be spent helping vulnerable families, a union has demanded.
Unison says more than nine in ten social workers who took part in a survey said the National Assessment and Accreditation System would increase the pressure on already overstretched local authorities.
The Government has piloted the scheme and plans to introduce it later this year in 31 of the 152 English local authorities responsible for family and children’s services.
It would mean social workers undergoing a four-stage assessment including an online test of knowledge and skills and a simulated practice observation using role play scenarios with actors.
Ministers say it will make sure social work teams have the right knowledge and skills.
But Unison's head of local government Heather Wakefield said: 'This ill-thought out scheme threatens to make things worse, not better.
'It doesn’t accurately assess the work staff do, and could prove the final straw for many experienced employees, who may well vote with their feet and leave.
'Ministers should think again, and instead of making dedicated employees take this ill-conceived test, provide more resources to enable them to do their jobs properly.'
