1 Future of Social Work with Adults Lyn Romeo Chief Social Worker for Adults

2 As Chief Social Worker for Adults my role is to: Provide an expert voice for social work in government through influencing national policy and legislation. Continue the reform of social work education, training and practice. Improve the wider public’s perceptions and understanding of the role and value of social work in improving people’s lives. Enter the presentation's title using the menu option View > Header and Footer

3 Changing landscape in health and social care Future of Social Work with Adults Policy Drivers – Integration, Personalisation, Outcomes-focused Care Act 2014 Mental Capacity Act / DOLS Mental Health Act - Code of Practice Dementia strategy, Autism strategy, Transitions to adulthood Winterbourne view Service DE – approaches to local authority commissioning Integrated health and social care providers (Better Care Fund) Integrated Mental Health Services Integrated responses with primary care Social enterprises / community interest companies (CICs) Standards and Regulation Chief Social Workers for Children & Adults, education reform, AYSE, CPD Refreshed employer standards for social workers HCPC regulations

4 The Care Act is built around people Future of Social Work with Adults Puts personal budgets on a legislative footing for the first time, which people will be able to receive as direct payments if they wish. Ensures that people’s well-being and the outcomes which matter to them, will be at the heart of every decision that is made. Puts carers on the same footing as those they care for. Creates a new focus on preventing and delaying needs for care and support, rather than only intervening at crisis point.

5 Regulations, Guidance and Good Practice Future of Social Work with Adults Produced in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders – in much the same collaborative approach use to produce the Act Final publication of Regulations and Guidance in October 2014 Good practice guidance and implementation tools Act implementation April 2015/2016

6 Repositioning of social work in adult social care Future of Social Work with Adults Promote social workers as the lead professional responsible for personalised, integrated care and supports – especially: Prevention – promoting independence and resilience Assessment or review of an individual or carer with complex social care needs Supervising safeguarding enquiries Transition to adulthood Social workers have the qualifications, knowledge and skills to work: - with complexity, risk and conflict - Operate within a legal framework - therapeutically and in the community - with capacity and mental health needs - to shape the social care market

7 Opportunities for innovative social work practice Future of Social Work with Adults Task-centred/problem-solving Client-centred interventions which make a real difference to people’s lives Strengths and community-based approaches Making safeguarding personal approach Micro-providers/ innovative use of personal budgets Family systemic approaches Attachment based strategies with adults Motivational approaches

8 Ability to make a difference Future of Social Work with Adults Social Worker Carer “Working with a man living in squalor, eating out of bins and very unkempt and neglecting all personal and nutritional care....the work done with this man has made a vast difference to his life. He was shunned and discriminated against by neighbours, schoolchildren and others in the community. It seems he has lost all self-respect, however this is gradually coming back in very small stages...” “It was the social worker who was the greatest professional support and put me in touch with a wonderful independent carer who helped to look after mum at home for the last few months before she needed residential care. Of all the professionals, she had the most hands-on understanding”

9 Implications for Social Work Practice Future of Social Work with Adults Renewed focus on Maximising independence and choice Strong legal literacy Positive risk-taking Working with other professionals Leadership at all levels Away from Procedure and process-driven approaches to assessment and care planning Will mean Professional responsibility for continuous professional development Common values, ethics and models of interventions across adults’ and children’s services Social work must deepen its knowledge and skills if it is to respond to the transformation of health and social care Changing expectations of care and support – user of services as equal partner; strengths/asset-based approaches Responding to meet the challenges arising from demographic changes – aging population, dementia, long-term conditions, mental health, financial constraints Requires: Workforce planning, organisational commitment to social work and access to quality assured CPD