SCOTLAND SETS “GOOD EXAMPLE” IN SOCIAL WORK SAYS CEO OF UK SOCIAL WORKERS

SCOTLAND SETS “GOOD EXAMPLE” IN SOCIAL WORK SAYS CEO OF UK SOCIAL WORKERS

FORMER LABOUR MP SUPPORTS SCOTLAND’S ‘EARLY INTERVENTION’ PROTECTION

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Children Committee – has welcomed comments made by the Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers, Hilton Dawson, on Channel 4 News where said Scotland set a “good example” in social work provision, with earlier intervention to protect the vulnerable compared to the system in England.

Interviewed on Channel 4 News last night (29 September) about the tragic case of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter, Mr Dawson – a Labour MP between 1997 and 2005 - said the following when asked about the need for better engagement between the different governmental bodies concerned with social care:

“The different bodies need to work together very much more effectively, and there’s a good example in Scotland very close to Mr Brown’s heart, where again a nation which has invested in social work, which does support social workers, is intervening earlier to protect vulnerable adults. And there’s good reason to suppose – and many of our… my Scottish colleagues tell me – that this sort of situation would not have been allowed to happen in Scotland, where there would be mandatory involvement and co-operation between the agencies at an earlier stage.”

Welcoming his comments Ms McKelvie said:

“These are significant and welcome comments from the Chief Executive of the British Association of Social Workers. As leader of the social work profession, Mr Dawson also has a wealth of practical experience and expertise in social work and children’s services.

“The Scottish Government’s policy of early intervention and co-operation across public agencies is working, and Mr Dawson’s supportive comments carry great authority.

“I am pleased that the Scottish system has secured this recognition, which Mr Dawson regards as being more robust than the system south of the Border. There are very difficult of issues, and Mr Dawson’s remarks recognise that our social workers and social carers are the professionals who are there when society needs protection for our most vulnerable citizens, and it is important that we recognise their work and commitment.

“And further, it underlines today’s child protection statistics which show how action is being taken to protect our children, strengthening at-risk families and helping our parents to look after their children.”