FUTURE OF SOCIAL WORK

That this House recognises the critical role of social work in protecting, supporting and empowering children and adults made vulnerable by disability, old age, ill health and personal circumstances; notes the international definition of social work by the International Federation of Social Work and approved by the United Nations and supports its inclusion in the Health and Social Care Bill; further recognises that the role and functions of social workers should be protected; and calls for the establishment of a chief social worker to report to Parliament annually on the state of social work as well as statutory powers for a College of Social Work to ensure that the voices of social workers are heard.