2.3 Professional social work advice in the National Social Work Agency

Senior professional social work advisers are responsible for providing Scottish Ministers and policy teams within the Scottish Government with impartial expert social work advice. Their advice relates to developing policy and implementing practice that affects children, families, young people and adults across various settings, including in social care, mental health, justice, homes, prisons, hospitals, schools and all settings that include social workers.

We have several senior professional social work advisers within the National Social Work Agency. We also work collaboratively with colleagues across the Scottish Government to bring together and amplify national social work voices.

All professional social work advisers in the National Social Work Agency and the Scottish Government are registered social workers with experience of managing or delivering social work in local areas. Many have specialist knowledge, including child protection, adoption and kinship services, supporting people affected by alcohol and drug use and their recovery, forensic mental health, adult support and protection, community justice, community mental health and other services.

We also have social workers leading National Social Work Agency teams and supporting local social work leaders and teams with specialist training.