Decisions for issue Children's Social Care Update -

That the Committee agree the eight key standards for future governance reports

1.   Have in place a social work accountability framework informed by knowledge of good social work practice and the experience and expertise of service users, carers and practitioners;

2. Use effective workforce planning systems to make sure that the right number of social workers, with the right level of skills and experience, are available to meet current and future service demands;

3. Implement transparent systems to manager workload and case allocation in order to protect service users and practitioners;

4. Make sure that social workers can do their jobs safely and have the practical tools and resources they need to practise effectively. Assess risks and take action to minimise and prevent them;

5. Ensure that social workers have  regular and appropriate social work supervision;

6. Provide opportunities  for  continuing  professional development, as well as access to research and  practical guidance;

7. Ensure social workers can maintain their professional registration; and

8. Establish effective partnerships with higher education institutions and other organisations to support the delivery of social work education and continuing professional development.

In future this social work governance report will report on the above eight key areas.