1. Foreword from Joanna Macdonald

We are proud to present the first Corporate Plan for the National Social Work Agency. This one-year plan marks an important milestone in our journey to strengthen social work in Scotland and set a clear direction for the future.

Social work plays a vital role in supporting people and communities across Scotland. It is a profession built on values of human rights, dignity and social justice, and it is central to delivering the Scottish Government’s ambitions for a fairer, more inclusive society; where everyone can reach their full potential and live the lives they want to lead. The National Social Work Agency was established to champion these values and to lead change that ensures social work remains strong, sustainable and equipped to meet the challenges ahead.

This plan sets out our:

• vision and values – the foundation of everything we do
• strategic priorities for the year ahead – focused on education, workforce planning, and professional development
• ambitions for the future – creating a profession that is highly skilled, resilient and supported to deliver the best outcomes for people and communities

As this is our first corporate plan, it is an interim step. It provides a framework for action while we continue to engage with partners, social workers and people who use services to shape a longer-term strategy. Collaboration is at the heart of our approach, and we will work together to build a profession that reflects Scotland’s diversity, promotes equality, embeds trauma informed principles across social work systems and practice and drives continuous improvement.

We invite you to join us on this journey. Together, we can create a social work profession that is confident, valued and ready for the future.

Joanna Macdonald

Chief Executive, National Social Work Agency
National Chief Social Work Adviser to the Scottish Government