Government proposals for social work reform have ‘significant weaknesses’ and should be scrapped, says Education Committee.

A new report published by the House of Commons Education Select Committee said the Government’s plans for setting up a new social work regulator should be abandoned and a strong, new professional body to unify the sector should be established.

The committee found the social work sector is being pulled in different directions by the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department of Health (DH).

Whitehall has created two chief social worker positions: one for children and families, reporting to the secretary of state for education, and the other for adults, reporting to the secretary of state for health.

The committee recommends there should be one chief social worker to improve joined-up thinking at the national level

Neil Carmichael, the chair of the Education Committee, said: ‘Social workers have a crucial role in improving outcomes for children, young people and families.

‘At a time when social work is under immense pressure, with social workers facing increasing workloads and local authorities wrestling with tighter funding, it is crucial the Government now makes greater efforts to work closely with the social work profession.

‘The Government shouldn’t be wasting money on a new social work regulator. The Government should instead help to establish a new professional body for social work, which is trusted to take the lead on bringing about the improvements needed.’

Mr Carmichael said the Government’s plans do not focus enough on tackling the ‘endemic retention problems’ in children and families’ social work and he urges ministers to prioritise this.

He added a strong professional body would improve ‘post-qualifying prospects’, increase the ‘voice of social workers at a national level’, and change the ‘blame culture’ persistent in social work.