Today the National Social Work Agency (NSWA) comes into being, which is an important moment in the history of social work in Scotland.
It’s over 50 years since the establishment of a unified profession by the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and 20 years since Changing Lives: Report of the 21st Century Social Work Review re-affirmed the role of social workers as a profession underpinned by knowledge, skills and values.
The creation of the NSWA demonstrates that social work matters at a national level and is a significant milestone. It will strengthen the social work profession, support workforce planning and improve professional practice.
Working together
I look forward to continuing to work closely with National Chief Social Work Adviser Joanna Macdonald, as she takes up her dual role as NSWA Chief Executive.
As the regulator for social workers and social work students and the body responsible for setting the standards for their education, professional learning and the Codes of Practice we play a central role in development of the profession.
Working together with the NSWA and the Scottish Social Work Partnership, made up of COSLA and Social Work Scotland, means we can make sure that social work education and career long professional learning, meet the needs of the workforce and the communities they work with.
You can read more on the NSWA website.