Social workers, in line with recent recommendations, are calling for better representation of the profession through the creation of a government-appointed chief social worker and the creation of a national college of social work, according to a poll by the Association of Social Work Employment Businesses (ASWEB).

The poll of 250 social workers on the books of ASWEB members found they also want improved qualifications and levels of training, fewer government targets and greater respect for their profession.

Among the results are: 

• More than four-fifths (81.4%) demand better public representation in the form of a government-appointed chief social worker, to advise ministers and the public
  
  
• Nearly nine in 10 (89.4%) call for the establishment of a National College of Social Work
  
  
• Nearly two-thirds (63.4%) would like to see a licence-to-practise system introduced for newly qualified social workers across the board
  
  
• Almost four-in-five (79%) believe morale is lower or much lower than five years ago
  
  
• Nearly half (48.4%) feel that low professional respect poses the biggest challenge

Andrew Thorne, chair of ASWEB, says: “ASWEB believes that the concepts of a chief social worker and the National College of Social Work send out powerful and positive messages that society values social work as a profession, recognises the value that it brings, and demonstrates a clear government commitment to driving up standards and competence.  
 
“Such initiatives would help to attract more people into the profession and persuade those already in it to stay longer.  Initiatives such as these would be an enormous boost to morale in the profession at a time when the evidence suggests that it is suffering greatly.”