Item 8 - Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2024 25
West Dunbartonshire Council · 17 December 2025
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 17 December 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by: Lesley James Head of Children’s Health and Justice Chief Social Work Officer Date of Meeting: 17th December 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to request oversight and approval of West Dunbartonshire Council Annual Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) Report which provides information on the statutory work undertaken delegated to the HSCP on the Council’s behalf, including a summary of governance arrangements, service delivery, resources and workforce. 2. Recommendations 2.1 The Council are asked to approve the contents of the report contained at appendix 1 and its submission to the Office of the Chief Social Work Advisor to the Scottish Government 3. Background 3.1 The requirement for each Council to have a Chief Social Work Officer was initially set out in section 3 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and is also contained within section 45 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994. 3.2 The role of the CSWO is to provide professional guidance, leadership and accountability for the delivery of social work and social care services – both of those provided directly by the local authority social work and care services delegated to the HSCP and also those commissioned or purchased from other providers. 3.3 The CSWO Annual Report has been prepared in line with National Guidance: ‘The Role of the Chief Social Work Officer’ (Scottish Government: 2016). This report also fulfils the statutory requirement for each CSWO to produce an annual report on the activities and performance of social work services within the local area. 3.4 Following approval, the annual report will be provided to the Chief Social Work Advisor to the Scottish Government and will be posted on the Council and HSCP websites. ITEM 8
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4. Main Issues 4.1 Each CSWO produces an annual report based on an agreed template by the Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser. This ensures local reporting arrangements continue whilst having due regard to current pressures being experienced across the sector. The Office of the Chief Social Work Advisor will use completed reports to prepare a national overview in 2026. 4.2 The report, makes significant reference to the work of teams across Children & Families, Adults, Older People and Justice Services. The report gives both performance information and highlights the extensive and varied contribution that social work makes to the lives of our citizens within West Dunbartonshire and the role that social work has to play in the protection of the public. 4.3 Oversight arrangements, public protection activity and performance information is detailed as well as external scrutiny of those regulated services delivering statutory functions during 2024-25. 4.4 The report summarises the development around recruitment and retention in a national context of shortages of social workers and vacancies which have been evident for some time. Workforce planning is crucial in supporting the development of local strategies in recruitment and retention of social work staff and the priority that this requires. 4.5 Social Work professional values underpin the delivery of services which are, relationship and rights-based, informed by lived experience of those who use service and people’s behaviours are informed through an understanding of trauma and the impact can have on individual life experiences, behaviours and opportunities. 4.6 The Social Work and Care services workforce is diverse and includes social care workers, occupational therapists, residential and day care staff, home care staff, Mental Health Officers; and social workers delivering protection and a range of statutory interventions to ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable Children, Adults and the wider public. 4.7 Services are delivered by a skilled, dedicated workforce who require support, training and effective leadership to undertake complex and often challenging work. There are identified gaps in learning and development opportunities for social work staff and in 2025-26 we will see this improve with the appointments of two learning and development officers, with a skilled and supported workforce being at the heart of high-quality service delivery enabled by the employer and the HSCP. 4.8 Social work services in essence support some of the most vulnerable in our communities due to complexity of their needs and the risk to themselves or others. Services intervene in the lives of those that are unable to self -care with at times decision around liberty as well where they resided not being taken likely with the balance of individual rights and
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the needs for protection being a professional judgement using necessary statutory powers proportionally and with skilled workforce who engage and advocate where required to ensure rights are upheld. 5. People Implications 5.1 The CSWO Annual Report highlights both ongoing challenges and developments in workforce planning and recognises the activity taking place to support staff wellbeing and ensure successful recruitment and retention. 5.2 The report highlights developments of key posts across social work services to support an on-going improvement agenda and identified priorities for the delivery of social work services. 6. Financial and Procurement Implications 6.1 There are no financial or procurement implications arising from the CSWO annual report. 6.2 Budgetary oversight of services provided by the HSCP continues to be provided by the HSCP Board. Budget pressures in social work and social care are evident and the risks inherent in social work services aligned to their statutory nature need to be understood to support safe delivery and resourcing. 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 Provision of statutory social work services requires appropriately qualified and skilled staff; analysis of activity and future demand is intended to inform future service planning to continue to meet statutory duties. HSCP Risk registers reflect protection functions and impact of vacancies and current gap in some respects of core learning and development for staff. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 There is no requirement for an equalities impact assessment, as this report does not recommend a change to existing policy, function or strategy. 9. Environmental Sustainability 9.1 There are no implications for environmental sustainability.
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10. Consultation 10.1 Contributions to the CSWO Annual Report has been informed by managers and staff delivering the statutory functions contained within this report. 11. Strategic Assessment 11.1 Analysis of activity, resources and performance within the CSWO Annual Report provide assurance that the planning and delivery of social work services in West Dunbartonshire continue to reflect statutory requirements. 11.2 The report also demonstrates how services support the Council’s strategic priorities and the HSCP Strategic Plan, working with local residents and communities to improve lives. Lesley James Head of Children’s Health, Care and Justice Chief Social Work Officer Person to Contact: Lesley James, Head of Children’s Health, Care and Justice Services, Chief Social Work Officer Lesley.james@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1- Chief Social Work Officer Annual Report 2024- 25