Social Work History Network: seminar held on 5th July 07 1.30 pm – 4.30pm
at the Franklin Wilkins Building, King’s College London.
1)
Present: 20 members and guests
2)
Welcome
KB welcomed members and guests.
JB would like to hear from people who knew Lady Juliet Bingley – it is assumed
that this is in connection with her life and contributions in the social work field.
Mike Burt will compose an email regarding his PhD studies on the history of
social work type roles, for dissemination to the membership.
3)
Date of next meeting
To be arranged.
Presentations
KB welcomed and introduced David Gilroy [see notes below] and Ian Shaw
[paper to be independently circulated].
David Gilroy: The Social Services Inspectorate 1985 - 2004
Relevant publication: D. Gilroy – The History of the SSI – free from DH
publications.
Pre-history
The Seebohm Report (1968) recommended the introduction of The Social Work
Service with promotional, educational and consultative functions and to provide a
conduit for communication between local and central government. The SWS
preceded the SSI. Tensions during the Thatcher years regarding value for money
and central and local links led to a House of Commons Select Committee (1982)
recommendation to introduce an Inspectorate. The government was initially not
keen to pursue this but owing to the persistence of Bill Utting, Kenneth Stow and
Kenneth Clark the battle to create a Social Services Inspectorate was finally won.
In 1985 the SWS ceased and the SSI was born.
DG identified:
1)
‘Three Ages’ of SSI history:
1985 – 1991 – Chief Inspector: Bill Utting [now Sir William Utting]
1991 – 1998 – CI: Herbert Laming [now Lord Laming]
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1998 – 2004 – CI: Denise Platt [now Dame Denise Platt]
2)
Three inter-related functions:
Inspection ~ Policy ~ Policy implementation
The SSI formed a part of government (DHSS, later DH) and comprised a small
number of inspectors (about 100). Its Chief Inspectors were Chief Advisers to
government ministers. The SSI operated under government preoccupations with
value for money, raising standards and maintaining public confidence and
focused on management as well as practice issues.
1985 – 1991: the Age of Partnership
During this stage, the methodology relating to inspections, creation of national
standards and collection of evidence developed, as evidenced in the report
“From Home Help to Home Care’. Crises in social services such as Cleveland
and Pindown received high media attention and government pressure on the SSI
to investigate. Half of the SSI resources were deployed in the development and
implementation of policy, notably relating to the Children Act 1989 and NHS &
Community Care Act 1990. Whilst in other fields central and local government
were at war, relations between the SSI and social services departments and
professional bodies were strong.
During this era national and local inspections gradually converged. A national
programme of inspection emerged following the Registration of Homes Act. The
SSI went into partnership with the Health Advisory Service. The SSI was required
to carry out special inspections of rate-capped authorities identified by
government as causing special concern. The outcomes of inspections and
special studies were fed into the government’s policy agenda.
1991 – 1998: The Age of Inspection
The DH adopted a more strategic approach and the SSI was required to work on
implementation aspects. The SSI consolidated its focus on Standards-based
Inspection and Special Studies. During this time there was a marked increase
SSI in workload arising out of the ‘whopping’ reform agenda of New Labour that
came into power in 1997. The national regulation and inspection programme
continued and expanded. Regional Health Authorities became new partners in
working across health and social care agendas. Government attitudes towards
social work hardened as a result of crises in social services. One health minister
apparently dismissed the tea trolley at a meeting he had called following a local
authority scandal with the words:
‘Take it away. They are not here for tea!’ Paul Boetang
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1998 – 2004: The Age of Performance Assessment
This era was dominated by performance assessments, the national inspection
programme, joint reviews and regional monitoring. Annual reviews and star
ratings were introduced presenting new challenges. There was concern in social
work and care services about the focus on numbers at the expense of qualitative
approaches. Ministerial criticism of social services was reported in the media.
2004: A New Approach
DG explained that 17 days after he had retired the Secretary of State announced
the abolition of the SSI and National Care Standards Commission and
introduction of the Commission for Social Care Inspection on April 2004. The
drivers for this change were the introduction of a parallel Health Inspectorate,
perceived need for health and social care congruence and apparent success of
the performance assessment programme.
SSI staff transferred to the CSCI. Social Care came under the remit of the Chief
Executive of the NHS.
Discussion
DG - Inspection

SSI strengths – managing the interface between central and local
government – good model for implementing policy, policy implementation
and partnership working, good inspection through performance
assessment.

1996 and 2004 have been low points for social work. 1996 – staff cuts
reduced workforce numbers. Professional voice was eliminated in some
important policy meetings. 2004 loss of Chief Inspector with social care
expertise leading the service; transfer of children’s services to education
following Climbie Inquiry.

The government would not have agreed to a General Council for Social
Work – the General Social Care Council was politically acceptable.

Future Health and Social Care Joint inspections will inspect social work
practice. This is a new area of inspection not previously undertaken by the
SSI.
Ian Shaw - Research

The relationship between evaluation and research is seen differently
across the world. In the USA research and evaluation are distinct
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professional entities considered to be of equal merit. The evaluation
movement in the UK is growing. However, in health circles in the UK it is
not seen as scholarly. IS said he viewed the two topics as separate but
also overlapping circles.

Social workers have problems showing how they make a difference
because they don’t have control over all the variables.

The impact of social work practice is often not immediately apparent and
may take a long time to emerge e.g. adoption field.

Do we make best use of research and evaluation outcomes in social
work?

Who should be undertaking the evaluation of social work? Should
evaluators be trained social workers or independent people?
JR
Draft 1: 9th July 07
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