My name is Liz Howard and I am currently employed by Sheffield City Council as a Practice Development Manager with responsibility for promoting and maintaining high standards of practice and compliance with the Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
I have recently studied for and achieved, a PG Cert in Leadership and Management in Social Work, through the South Yorkshire Teaching Partnership. Shortly after completing the leadership and management course, I became aware of a secondment opportunity with Social Work England. Having read through the job specification I was excited to hear that Social Work England would have a base in Sheffield and that they were looking for an experienced Adult Social Worker . I felt immediately that this was an opportunity not to be missed and sought the support of my manager and colleagues in expressing an interest in the role. Following an informal meeting at the end of January 2018 I was told I had been successful. Yesssss! . The role is initially for 6 months with the option for a further 6 month extension and with scope to join Social Work England as a secondee, as the new regulator is established.
The Children and Social Work Act 2017 establishes Social Work England as the new, specialist regulator for social workers in England. It is a body independent from government responsible for setting professional education and training standards for social workers and providing assurance that those registered meet the standards, are qualified and remain fit to practise. I will be joining this high profile national programme of work at a key moment in its development.
The primary objective of the new regulator will be protection of the public. Establishing Social Work England is a key part of achieving the Government’s vision to improve both the quality of social work practice, and the systems that support social workers.
In this role I will provide line of sight to frontline practice, providing both challenge and support as well an inputting social work knowledge and experience into strategy and operational development, support and promote engagement with the sector including facilitating consultation with social workers, people with support needs, employers and training providers on proposals for professional standards of conduct, CPD standards and approach, and training and education standards for the training of social workers.
I’m looking forward to getting started and to be part of this new and exciting chapter for social work.