ABSTRACT
Effective professionals need to be carefully selected, well qualified and committed to continuous development. Major investment has been made in social work over the last decade. Qualifying degree courses for social workers were set up for the first time as well as continuation of the master’s programmes for postgraduates. Professional registration was introduced by the General Social Care Council, protecting the ‘social work’ marque. A hierarchy of post-qualifying and advanced awards for continuous professional development was established.
