Welcome by Joanna Macdonald, National Chief Social Work Adviser

Welcome 

I am delighted to welcome you to Valuing Practice: Scotland’s Framework for Social Work Education and Learning.

Social work is challenging, rewarding, and constantly evolving. It is a profession rooted in relationships, trust and a steadfast commitment to improving people’s lives. Because of this, it is essential that our education system continues to reflect these values as society and our workforce change.

The Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs has outlined the journey toward this renewed framework. Built on the principles of fairness, dignity and respect, Valuing Practice brings together the updated Scottish Requirements for Social Work Education – covering entry requirements and expectations for teaching, learning, and assessment – alongside refreshed Standards in Social Work Education. Our Ethical Principles remain central throughout, underpinning everything we ask of students, educators and qualified practitioners.

I cannot overstate the value I place on social work education and lifelong learning. I remember early in my career, the nervous anticipation of my first practice learning opportunity which was in an adoption and fostering team. I recall the kindness and the challenge of my practice educator and the encouragement offered by the wider team, and their genuine interest in learning from me. This had such a positive impact on me. Those experiences were some of the most rewarding and testing I have had and they shaped me as a social worker and as a person. I have maintained my commitment to this day to my own professional learning and development through both reflective supervision and more formal learning. 

As Scotland’s National Chief Social Work Adviser and Chief Executive of the new National Social Work Agency, I also want to take this moment to reaffirm the vision of the National Social Work Agency: to lead and advance the social work profession – raising its profile, driving improvement, and providing clear direction and oversight for social work education.

I am incredibly proud of the sector’s achievements in recent years. The introduction of the supported first year in practice for newly qualified social workers in October 2024 was a significant step forward, and I know the standards accompanying this development were created collaboratively and are eagerly anticipated.

Valuing Practice is intended to support a wide range of people: those who design and deliver social work programmes, those responsible for assessing students and practitioners, employers, students, educators, policy makers, and – crucially – people with lived experience of social work services. I hope you find it to be a clear, supportive and inspiring resource that strengthens our shared commitment to high‑quality, values‑driven social work practice across Scotland.

When we originally embarked on the development of an advanced practice framework for Social Work, we clearly heard from you that learning does not stop at qualification – and you do not want it to. Your feedback shaped our approach, ensuring initial education and continuing professional development requirements exist within a single context, rather than creating an additional framework. We heard that you want access to the right learning and development at the right time and that regardless of your role, you need a structure that supports you from your first days at university through to retirement. That is why Valuing Practice includes post qualifying standards at four levels: newly qualified social workers, social workers, advanced social workers, and strategic social workers.

Many of you have said that progression is not always about promotion to managing services – you want opportunities to deepen your expertise and explore different areas of practice. We know that to thrive, practitioners need ongoing development, reflection, and support. My hope is that you can recognise where you are within these levels and use the associated standards to guide your practice. 

We will build from here. With Valuing Practice as our foundation, we now have the opportunity to collaborate again drawing on your knowledge, insights and experience to develop additional meaningful resources to ensure you can shape your learning and your career in the way that works best for you.

And finally, I want to thank you for your continued dedication to the people and communities we serve. I am so incredibly proud of the work we do together, and I look forward to seeing how Valuing Practice supports the next chapter of social work education and practice in Scotland. 

Joanna Macdonald
National Chief Social Work Adviser 
Chief Executive of the National Social Work Agency