18 February 2025
Social Work Scotland welcomes the establishment of a new executive agency within Scottish Government, led by the Chief Social Work Adviser. The move to place the Chief Social Work Adviser on a statutory footing is an important and positive step, reflecting the critical role of social work.
We appreciate the recognition and profile this development affords the profession, ensuring that social work expertise is embedded at the heart of government policy and decision-making. The new structure offers the opportunity for greater coherence in social work policy and its delivery, helping to improve systems that are not only responsive to but also reflective of the values and principles that underpin our work.
At the same time, we acknowledge that success will depend on more than the government agency status. To achieve meaningful and lasting change, it will require the credibility and influence that comes from genuine and structural partnership with the sector and its representatives, and the active buy-in of senior leaders. The new agency must now prioritise this, in order to coordinate and support progress in delivering positive change for the workforce, leaders, and individuals.
We look forward to working collaboratively to support the Scottish Government in the design of the new agency and the wider strategic partnership, ensuring the agency can be a catalyst for positive transformation whilst strengthening the profession.
