Is a UK-wide social work college possible?

22nd February 2011

The debate over the future of a social work college has been going on for several weeks now, with many twists and turns in the plot.  We have even discussed the issue in a guest blog on the Guardian Society website.

Last week, the Welsh assembly ruled out the idea of a UK-wide college of social work in its framework for sustainable social services, and the dreams of the The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) of establishing a national college looked to have taken a major blow. 

However, a statement from BASW has since made it clear that they are happy to proceed without government involvement, saying “it is most unusual for government to be concerned with the establishment of professional bodies”.  Their statement highlighted the work they are doing in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to establish a single professional body for the UK, and signalled their firm intentions for the coming months.

Update – Wednesday 23rd February:

Community Care today brought us the news that BASW was considering ditching its name, and continuing as “The College of Social Work”.  They would then intend to work towards forming a single, unified college with their current rivals.  Read the story in Community Care here.

BASW also revealed plans to set up a trade union, called the ‘Social Worker’s Union’ as a separate legal entity.

There is a clearly a great deal more to come from both parties before the issue of a social work college is resolved…