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The future of the social work profession
1.
Are you a:
Newly qualified social worker
Social worker
Senior social worker
Principal social worker
Team manager
Senior manager
student social worker
Social work academic
Other (please specify)
2.
Are you mostly employed in a:
Statutory setting (eg local authority, NHS)
Voluntary setting (charities, not-for-profit organisations)
Private setting (profit making company)
Independent/self-employed
Other (please specify)
3.
In which country do you work?
England
Scotland (please go to question 7)
Wales (please go to question 7)
Northern Ireland (please go to question 7)
4.
If England, were you a member of The College of Social Work?
Yes
No
5.
If no, why not?
6.
If yes, why?
7.
Were you upset when you heard The College of Social Work was closing?
Yes
No
Not sure
Didn't know it was closing
8.
Are you a member of any other representative or social work organisation? (Please tick all that apply)
British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
Unison
Social Work Action Network (SWAN)
Joint University Council-Social Work Education Committee (JUC-SWEC)
Association of Professors of Social Work (APSW)
Social Workers Assembly
Social Work Scotland
Other (please specify)
9.
Do you think social work needs a professional college?
Yes
No
10.
If yes, should such a college be UK-wide
Yes
No
Don't know
11.
If yes, what should be the remit of such a college? (Please tick all that apply)
To improve professional standards and education including accreditation and endorsement
To set and assess professional examinations
To raise the profile of social work in the media
To negotiate with with government on all policy areas concerning social work
To share good practice
To provide career support and mentoring networks
To host specialist networks
To provide practice guidance, resources and information
To provide professional indemnity insurance
To provide advice and representation services on legal and employment issues
To promote research and provide access to the latest research including publishing research journals
To provide a whistleblowing hotline
Other (please specify)
12.
If a college of social work was set up that fulfilled your needs would you be willing to pay to be a member?
Yes, whatever the cost
Yes, if the cost was not excessive
No
Not sure
13.
How much would you be willing to pay to be a member of such a college annually?
More than £300
Between £200-£300
Between £100-£200
Less than £100
14.
How important is it that a college of social work is financially independent of government?
Vital
Important, but we have to be realistic
Not important
15.
Are you in favour of another organisation taking on all of the current roles and functions of the current college of social work?
Yes
No, happy for various roles and functions to be split up
Don't know
It's more complicated than that - it needs consultation
Other (please specify)
16.
Which organisation would be your first choice to take on some or all of the current functions?
British Association of Social Workers (BASW)
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Skills for Care
The Social Workers Assembly
The Health and Care Professions Council
Other (please specify)
17.
Which of these options do you support as the qualification for entry into the profession? (Please tick all that apply)
A generic qualification, covering children’s and adults social work
Two separate, specialist qualifications covering children’s social work or adults social work
A qualification with a generic initial component followed by specialisation in either children’s or adults’ social work?
Other (please specify)
18.
Which of the following routes into the profession do you support? (please tick all that apply)
A three-year undergraduate degree
A two-year masters’ degree
A fast-track qualification designed to prepare people for a particular area of social work
A fast-track, work-based qualification designed to prepare people for a particular area of social work
Other (please specify)
19.
Do you believe post-qualifying training for social workers should be regulated by a single body in the same way that pre-qualifying training is by the HCPC?
Yes
No
Worth considering, need more information
20.
Which statement do you identify most strongly with?
Social work is a single profession that requires generic skills that can be used with a variety of service users including children, people with mental health problems and older people.
Social work is a single profession that needs some generic skills and knowledge but also requires practitioners to have specialist skills and knowledge to work with different client groups.
Social work is at least two professions – adults’ social work and children’s social work – because the skills required to work with different client groups are so different.
Other (please specify)
21.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your thoughts on the future of the social work profession? (Quotes may be used in any article written about this survey but details will remain anonymous)
22.
Would you be happy to be contacted by a journalist from Community Care? If yes, please leave details