Mission statement
The College of Social Work enables the development of the profession, responding to current and future challenges, in turn benefitting the people the profession exists to serve. It acts as the public voice of social work, representing social work and social workers in the media, with government and with employers.
Governance
The College of Social Work is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, company number 07499397. It is governed by a Transition Board. The current transitional board will be replaced by a membership elected board in the spring of 2012. The College is currently recruiting its first Chief Executive.
More information about The College of Social Work governance
Vision
The College of Social Work exists to ensure that social workers are able to work to the highest possible standards, engage as effectively as possible with people who use social work services and their carers, and allow children and adults to achieve their full potential.
Mission
The mission of The College is to develop a strong profession, confident about the unique contributions it makes to the individuals, families and communities it serves, with a clear sense of its identity, values, ethics and purpose.
Strategic aims and objectives
The strategic aims for the first three years is to establish and develop The College to:
- be a powerful voice for the social work profession, in discussions with the public, policy makers and the media
- provide strong leadership for the profession
- work closely with people who use social work services and carers, ensuring that their views are incorporated into the overall development of The College
- be an international centre of excellence for the social work profession.
In working to realise the above strategic aims, The College improves, supports and provides leadership by and for the social work profession. It leads the development of the profession and represents it in discussions with organisations that regulate, employ, educate and train, work with and are affected by social work.
The College is an independent organisation, led by and accountable to social workers. Its remit initially covers England and it will later develop as a UK body. It will build strong links with other membership organisations. The College works collaboratively with the organisations that have statutory responsibilities to the profession and challenge appropriately. The College works within the regulatory framework for social work in England.
Regulatory frameworks in the devolved administrations
For regulatory frameworks in the devolved administrations please visit:
Objectives
The College will:
- generate cultural change and raise the status and standard of social work
- act as the source and guardian of the highest possible professional standards at every level of the profession, building from the work already undertaken by the Social Work Reform Board, developing standards for practice and for employers in England. For information about standards in the devolved administrations for social workers please visit the links above
- promote clarity and coherence about the role of social work, by defining and promoting the reserved functions of the profession
- improve public understanding of social work, by developing a positive and transparent relationship with the media and representing the profession in public debates
- facilitate and maintain peer review and support, to improve and develop the profession
- act as the essential source of advice on social work to those who educate, regulate, support and deliver social work and social care
- ensure that its work is grounded in how social work can best support people who use social work services and carers.
Values and Principles
We reflect and work to the following values:
- Integrity - we promote the integrity of the social work profession and this will be reflected in the conduct of The College’s business.
- Respect - we inspire respect for the profession of social work.
- Dignity - by working to promote the dignity of people who use social work services, we instill confidence amongst the profession itself and service users and carers.
- Transparency - we work openly and honestly when conducting all College business.
- Social Justice - we are a voice for social justice and work to promote inclusion.
- Consideration - we work with consideration for others within the profession and respect the contribution of others.
- Cultural capability - we engender a culture of professional capability and accountability.
We aim to work to the following organisational principles:
- Leadership - we provide leadership to the profession.
- Led by the profession - we mobilise the considerable expertise of the profession and its members, who will contribute to all College activity.
- Excellence - we enable, promote and guard excellence in the profession.
- Pride - we have pride in, and bring pride to the social work profession.
- Independence - we are independent and willing to challenge when necessary.
- Involvement - we engage actively with people who use social work services and carers, ensuring that we respond to their views, support their empowerment and enable them to contribute to the development of The College and its services.
- Accountability - we are accountable to our members for the way we serve the wider public.
- Partnership - we actively seek partnerships with organisations and groups whose work complements our own, including organisations run by people who use services and carers.
- International - Social work is an international profession. We learn from and contribute to developments beyond geographical and professional boundaries.
- Starting from strengths - we are building on existing good practice in the UK and in other countries.
- Collaborative - we work collaboratively with other professions and with organisations that are involved with and affect or influence the profession, including organisations of service users and carers.
- Coherence - we bring coherence and clarity to the profession.
- Public benefit - we work to improve standards of social work, ensuring that whole communities benefit from the work of the profession.