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Jane Haywood, Chief Executive at the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) has welcomed the government's social work implementation plan as a "strong and comprehensive blueprint for the future of the profession'.

Mrs Haywood was speaking following the launch of 'Building a safe and confident future: implementing the recommendations of the social work task force'.

The plan responds to the Social Work Taskforce's recommendations and sets out priorities and ambitions for reform. It describes how the government will work with organisations across the profession as it develops a partnership approach to reform. 

Mrs Haywood said: "Social workers perform an invaluable role in our society and carry out vital work each and every day by providing support, care and improved life chances to the most vulnerable.

"This plan provides a strong and comprehensive blueprint for the future of the social work profession and lays important groundwork towards a sustainable and effective programme of reform. For the last two years CWDC has been working alongside employers to help them to address recruitment and retention issues and support the reform of social work. As part of this new reform plan, we will continue to support employers as well as work with national partner organisations to develop the new initiatives set out in this implementation plan."

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Notes to Editors

About CWDC and its social work campaign

Key initiatives led by CWDC include providing support to:

• more than 2,000 newly qualified social workers from 140 local authorities and 13 third sector organisations in their first year of employment. The programme offers a structured and guided first year of employment which improves social workers' skills and supports retention in the profession;
• social workers in their second and third years of employment by developing an Early Professional Development (EPD) programme. More than 800 social workers from 60 local authorities and third sector organisations started the EPD programme in September 2009;
• eleven local authorities as they develop new ways for social workers to spend more time with children and families and develop closer working relationships with colleagues from other services;
• the 'Step Up to Social Work' pilot programme - an employment-based route to the social work masters aimed at attracting 200 high calibre candidate into the profession from September 2010.

About 'Be the Difference'

In September 2009 CWDC launched the 'Be the Difference' campaign to recruit social workers who work with children and families, generating over 53,000 registrations to date.

Anyone interested in a career in social work or would like more information should go to http://bethedifference.cwdcouncil.org.uk or call 0300 123 1220.

For further press information please contact CWDC Press and PR Manager Leigh Dowd on 01133907658, or at leigh.dowd@cwdcouncil.org.uk