The next new petition is PE1785, by Shane Hepburn. The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review and reduce the powers of social work departments. Do members have any comments or suggestions for action?
Official Report · Committee
New Petitions
Social Work Powers (Review) (PE1785)
Speakers
Choose an MSP to read only their contributions- Johann Lamont Lab 3
- David Torrance SNP 1
The record
4 contributions
link
We should write to the Scottish Government to seek its views, and we should also write to the key stakeholders. Various stakeholders are listed in the note by the clerk, but can we add the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to the list?
I thank the petitioner for raising the issue.
It is an interesting issue. I must be honest and say that, instinctively, I would not want to reduce the powers of social work departments. However, the issue might be how their powers are exercised against particular groups. How young people in care are treated is an important element of the petition.
We should acknowledge that the independent review of the care system, which the Scottish Government has accepted, has raised huge issues, and we perhaps need to see the petition in parallel with the on-going work around what has been a significant commitment to real change.
As David Torrance suggested, it would be worth while to write to the Scottish Government, to key stakeholders who have an interest and will have views on the issue and the care system, and to COSLA. Is that agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
Again, we thank the petitioner for bringing the issue to our attention. We recognise its importance.
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