The evolution of social work education in England: A critical review of its connections and commonalities with nurse education

Summary work education in England underwent significant change in its move to degree status in 2003. It is hoped that the result will be increased professional standing for social workers, an improvement in the current widespread problems with recruitment, and assurance that all newly qualified social workers meet the National Occupational Standards for Social Work (Topss UK Partnership, 2002. The National Occupational Standards for Social Work. Topss England, Leeds. Available from: <http://www.topssengland.net/files/cd/>). This change has pre-occupied social work educators and debate within the profession has concentrated on the practicalities and expectations of reform. This paper suggests that those working in nurse education may observe a number of similarities with its own earlier reforms and with current debates on whether nursing should move to an all-graduate profession. It then highlights three aspects of the new requirements for social work training: service user involvement, the place of research-minded practice, and the primacy of practice - that may be of interest and relevance to nursing colleagues.