Social workers believe social care ministers should have a background in the sector, a Community Care poll has found.
The results follow former fostering social worker Janet Daby's appointment as minister for children and families, with responsibility for children's social care, within the Department for Education.
Daby’s appointment was much celebrated by social work bodies, but her background is a rarity among ministers with responsibility for social care.
Her most recent Conservative predecessors were formerly a charity chief executive (David Johnston), a banker, think-tank worker and political special adviser (Claire Coutinho), the owner of a marine survey consultancy (Kelly Tolhurst) and a teacher (Brendan Clarke-Smith)
Daby's counterpart with responsibility for adult social care, Stephen Kinnock, worked for non-governmental organisations and in consultancy before becoming an MP, while his Conservative predecessor, Helen Whately, was in the healthcare consultancy sector.
However, it is clear that social workers believe that Daby's background should be the norm, not the exception. The Community Care poll, which amassed just over 1,350 votes, revealed that the vast majority of practitioners (91.2%) believed a social care background was needed for social care ministers because “otherwise they wouldn’t understand the role”.
Only 8.8% said background was not important “so long as they have reasonable expertise”.
‘A step forward’
Comments under the relevant article applauded Daby’s appointment.
“It is at least a step forward in having a person who understands children’s social care and the issues needing addressing,” said Tom Farmcombe.
“After 25 years as a [social worker and guardian], I know full well the challenges ahead. It is not just about the efficiency of services, it is also about the funding systems and interplays with local authority resources, politics and agendas.”
Pauline O’Reggio also expressed hope that Daby would receive “support to make changes for all”.
“I understand [Daby] comes from a social work background. [...] Let’s hope she has an understanding of the difficulties faced by the service and social workers,” she added.
“The profession is in need of change, there is no doubt about that. I sincerely wish her all the best and [that] she’s able to withstand the difficulties she will no doubt face in all areas of her new role.”
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