Choice, control and wellbeing: The College of Social Workers Care Act resources now available

Thanks to the College of Social Workers, social workers tasked with helping to implement the Care Act have two new resources they can use. The new Capability Statements and Curriculum Guide help social workers consider their strengths and development needs while making sure they secure the best outcomes for people who use services.

The publications will also benefit employers, commissioners and educators, to meet their duty to support good social work practice.

The curriculum guide is for use by individual social workers to aid their professional development, but also by employers, commissioners and educators, to help meet their responsibilities to support and develop good social work practice and standards.

It covers the main areas of practice that are required for social workers to implement the Care Act well. These are: legal literacy and policy context; principles, values and rights; professionalism; professional judgement; and knowledge and skills to support key Care Act areas.

The capability statements document is applicable to all social workers who work with young people in transition, adults and carers, across all employment settings, and at all levels from students to senior management. It was developed in workshops with social workers, team managers and workforce leads across England.

Annie Hudson, Chief Executive of TCSW, said:

"The Care Act is a real opportunity to give people much greater choice, independence and control. That this will be challenging for social workers and other care and health professionals is beyond doubt, but we know that social workers' values and expertise position them well to respond confidently and capably. Social workers will also have to play a crucial leadership role in realising the ambitions and aspirations of the Act."