Introduction

Title of policy/proposal/division

The establishment of a National Social Work Agency (NSWA) as an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The NSWA aims to address systemic challenges in the social work profession and improve workforce sustainability and service delivery.

Directorate/Division/Team

National Social Work Agency Unit within the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser (OCSWA).

Planning

The policy proposed is to establish the NSWA as an executive agency of the Scottish Government. This would function as a distinct entity within the Scottish Government with its own board, although still accountable to Scottish Ministers and staffed by civil servants. 

As part of considering this policy option, a business case was developed. This considered the strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management case for the NSWA. Engagement took place with partners, including Scottish Government officials, public sector bodies, business stakeholders, third sector organisations, consumers and service users, academic experts, the workforce and other relevant groups. In line with a partnership approach to working, OCSWA worked alongside Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and Social Work Scotland (SWS) to undertake a comprehensive options appraisal. Seven delivery models were considered. As per HM Treasury Guidance, multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to assess benefits of each of these options. 

The recommendation arising from this process was to establish the NSWA as an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The National Chief Social Work Adviser will perform a dual role by also serving as the NSWA’s Chief Executive. The Advisor/Chief Executive of the NSWA will be responsible for implementation of the NSWA, with support from a Shadow Programme Board and a senior leadership team. Overall accountability will remain with Scottish Ministers. Professional social work advisors will offer their counsel on policy issues, ensuring that expert knowledge is involved in the decision-making process. 

In addition, it is proposed that the NSWA, COSLA and SWS, create the Scottish Social Work Partnership (SSWP). The SSWP will develop a national strategic plan for social work to be agreed by Scottish Ministers and COSLA leaders. 

A partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) was undertaken to consider the potential impacts of the policy proposal on businesses and organisations affected by the establishment of the National Social Work Agency. The BRIA concluded that the NSWA may have indirect impacts on a range of organisations, including local authorities and, in some cases, the NHS as employers of social workers; third and independent sector organisations delivering commissioned social work services; higher education institutions and training providers involved in social work education and professional development; relevant Scottish Government policy teams and public bodies such as the SSSC and Care Inspectorate; and social work sector membership and representative bodies.

Drawing on this analysis, the groups most relevant for consideration under the Consumer Duty are those organisations and practitioners directly engaging with or affected by NSWA activity, including third and independent sector organisations delivering commissioned services, organisations and practitioners involved in workforce development and professional learning, and social work services more broadly. Individuals who use social work services may be indirectly affected through changes in practice quality, standards and workforce capability.

The NSWA will have a dual role. It would be responsible for leading excellence and driving positive change across the social work profession in Scotland, and for providing expert impartial social work advice to Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government policy teams.

The NSWA’s vision is to empower Scotland’s social work profession to champion social justice, protect rights and keep people safe across Scotland. The aim is to work in partnership with the social work profession, people with lived experience, and partners to strengthen practice, elevate the profession, shape policy, and drive positive change.

There will be a number of organisations and individuals falling under the definition of ‘consumer’ in the sense that they will be impacted by and/or rely upon the services and decisions made by the NSWA. The consumers identified are as follows:

Direct consumers

Social workers and social work students:

Will directly use NSWA educational services through national professional learning, continuous development opportunities, implementation and learning support through the Trauma Responsive Social Work Services Programme and the application of national standards and guidance. 

The NSWA is not expecting to replace existing education providers, but will lead and coordinate national learning offers and provide national oversight of social work education and professional development.

Social workers, their multidisciplinary colleagues and social work students may also be recipients of training and implementation support through the Responsive Social Work Services Programme.

Employers of social workers (local authorities, health boards and third‑sector organisations) and higher educational institutions (HEIs):

Will directly use NSWA outputs such as workforce planning intelligence, national guidance, improvement support and shared national standards. These outputs will influence recruitment, retention, supervision and workforce development. HEIs may access these outputs also and may receive improvement support from the NSWA.

Third and independent sector providers delivering commissioned social work services: 

Directly affected by national standards, workforce planning guidance, and participation in nationally coordinated training programmes. They may experience impacts on staff time, training commitments and organisational alignment with NSWA guidance.

Indirect consumers

People who rely on social work services:

Adults, children, families and carers who receive social work support will be indirectly affected through changes in practice quality, workforce capability and national consistency, driven by NSWA standards and improvement activity. Although they do not receive NSWA services directly, the NSWA’s work influences the quality of services they depend on.

Advocacy and support organisations:

Bodies such as Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW), Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS), Who Cares? Scotland, and other representative groups who will not access NSWA services directly, but will be influenced by NSWA policy, learning frameworks and national standards, which shape their engagement and advocacy work.

Regulators and national bodies, Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), Care Inspectorate, NHS Education Service (NES):

Not consumers in a service‑user sense but are indirectly affected bodies. NSWA guidance and standards will interact with their regulatory, educational or inspection functions, requiring alignment and collaboration.

To that effect, this Consumer Duty Impact Assessment will consider the implications of the NSWA on these groups, as set out in the Consumer (Scotland) Act 2020.