Sweeping changes to the children’s social work profession were announced today in the wake of child abuse scandals in Rotherham and Manchester.
In her first major speech as Secretary of State for Education, Nicky Morgan outlined her plan to restore public confidence.
She said social workers have lost focus on the front line and are too bound up by needless red tape.
Speaking at the National Adult and Children’s Services (NCAS) conference in Manchester, Ms Morgan said a new qualification will be introduced for those who deal with the children most at risk. They must qualify for the new “approved child and family practitioner” status.
And a new position will be created in every local authority for a senior leader whose sole role is to focus on front line work with children.
Ms Morgan said “raising the bar” for social workers is one part of a wider, long-term response to the serious and unacceptable failings in Rotherham and Manchester.
She also announced that the government will support another year of the Frontline project, a fast- track recruitment scheme to attract top graduates into social work.
Today’s speech comes after an independent inquiry found that sex-grooming offences against young girls in Greater Manchester were “the new social norm” in some areas.
In Rotherham, South Yorkshire, a separate inquiry revealed that over 1,400 children were abused over 16 years.
