Changing Social Work

THE CHANGING ROLES AND TASKS OF SOCIAL WORK
A literature informed discussion paper
By James Blewett, Janet Lewis and Jane Tunstill

January 2007

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Introduction and structure of the report
Over the last nine years or so, a set of wide ranging aspirations for social care have been identified, articulated and can already be seen to be informing the delivery of social care services.1 In view of the challenges posed by both the diverse needs of those who use services, as well as the diversity and complexity of the workforce tasked to deliver them, the timing is now right to work towards a shared vision for 2020 when “all those who work within social care will have clarity about their role and how it fits with those of their colleagues” (Options for Excellence p 48). A consortium of organisations (GSCC; SCIE; CWDC; Skills for Care; CSCI) has the task of producing a definition for early 2007 of the role of social work, The purpose of this paper is to initiate and inform an inclusive discussion about the role and tasks of social work, to which all stakeholders can contribute, and on the basis of which a definition of social work can be developed. A detailed and comprehensive literature review would therefore clearly be inappropriate and counterproductive. Rather, the
It is interesting to note however the recent re-emergence of the radical tradition within British social work which very much takes up the former position (Jones et al,