Issue - meetings

[To receive a progress report on the work of the Principal Social Worker in promoting and improving the quality of social work practice and outline the key priorities for 2021-2022]

1.      That the work of the Principal Social Worker and the continued impact it has on social work practice across Children’s and Adult’s Services be endorsed.

2.      That the main priorities for the Principal Social Worker identified for 2021-2022 be endorsed.

3.      That the work carried out in respect of: Care Act easements; audit activity, which has highlighted continued strong performance and practice during Covid; and the continued commitment to supporting social work students and routes into social work which is ensuring the Council is able to meet demand and supply needs now and for the future be noted.

Councillors Linda Leach and Beverley Momenabadi reported on some of the key points from the Principal Social Worker Annual Report 2020-2021. The Annual Report highlighted progress made against key priorities carried out by the Principal Social Worker for adults and children’s services, including the work carried out to support social workers.  The report also outlined key priorities for 2021-2022. 

The value of the work of the Principal Social Worker in the Education and Skills service, aswell as the quality of partnership working between the various elements that the Local Authority is responsible for in social work were acknowledged by Cabinet. 

Jennifer Rogers, Principal Social Worker said that although it was her Annual Report about what she and her team had delivered and the impact, she wanted to say how proud she was of social workers in Wolverhampton and the social work profession.  She was pleased that the report had received such positive responses because it was testament to how hard social workers had worked during the pandemic to try and make a difference to children, families and adults across the city.

Resolved:

1.    That the work of the Principal Social Worker and the continued impact it has on social work practice across Children’s and Adult Services be endorsed.

2.    That the main priorities for the Principal Social Worker identified for 2021-2022 be endorsed.

3.    That the work carried out in respect of: Care Act easements; audit activity, which has highlighted continued strong performance and practice during Covid; and the continued commitment to supporting social work students and routes into social work which is ensuring the Council is able to meet demand and supply needs now and for the future be noted.