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Public Policy and Administration
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Reviews

The Report of the 21st Century Social Work Review

Reviewing the `Transformational' Aspirations of a Major Public Policy Initiative in Scotland

David Watson

Glasgow Caledonian University, UK, d.watson{at}gcal.ac.uk

Janice West

Glasgow Caledonian University, UK

Social Work Services in Scotland have recently undergone a major review of its purpose and function. The Review's conclusion was that cultural transformation was required if social work provision was to meet the needs of those receiving and providing the service in the 21st century. Central to this change process is that it would not be driven from the top down but involve all stakeholders, including service users and front-line providers. This article explores the early indications in relation to this more democratic approach to change. It considers three key areas: leadership, front-line involvement and performance measurement that are arguably central to the successful implementation of this Review. These areas are considered from the perspective of adopting a more inclusive approach to the transformation of the service. The conclusion of the article is that the ability to challenge traditional top down approaches to change is a problematic activity. Even at the early stage of the policy's implementation, top down methods of change have already started to reassert themselves.

Key Words: leadership • performance measurement • public policy • review • service delivery • social work

Public Policy and Administration, Vol. 23, No. 3, 302-318 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0952076708089978
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