The future of the social work profession Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 4. If England, were you a member of The College of Social Work? Yes No Question Title * 5. If no, why not? Question Title * 6. If yes, why? Question Title * 7. Were you upset when you heard The College of Social Work was closing? Yes No Not sure Didn't know it was closing Question Title * 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) Question Title * 9. Do you think social work needs a professional college? Yes No Question Title * 10. If yes, should such a college be UK-wide Yes No Don't know Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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 Question Title * 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 Question Title * 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 Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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 Question Title * 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) Question Title * 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) Question Title * 22. Would you be happy to be contacted by a journalist from Community Care? If yes, please leave details Done