Highland Welcomes Results Of Social Work Review

Highland Council’s Social Work leaders today welcomed the results of a Scottish Executive-led review which is the first fundamental look at social work since the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968.

The 21st Century Social Work Review Group consists of 13 independent experts from the statutory and voluntary sectors with knowledge of social work, health, housing, homelessness, education and criminal justice.

The group commissioned a MORI survey of public attitudes towards social work and found that the profession has a broadly positive profile in Scotland and highlights recognition that the demand for social services is set to increase significantly in the future.

Margaret Davidson, Chairperson of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee said: "The result that over three quarters of service users are happy with the service is excellent and indicates that social work services do make a positive difference in many people’s lives.  The service deserves this kind of positive recognition."

Highland Council’s Director of Social Work Services, Harriet Dempster said: "The results of the Review’s findings acknowledges the hard work Social Work staff put in every day, often in difficult and stressful circumstances.

"I am also glad to hear that that the survey responses made references to staff shortages and recognised that social workers are required to undertake a wide range of difficult tasks as this is an area that we have been tackling head on in recent months in Highland with major in-house training schemes and recruitment campaigns."