I very much agree with you Rosie – social work has to find the most creative and effective use of limited resources. But to do that on a consistent basis, I believe you must be freed up in your practice, which will require losing the burden of having to ensure that there is never any unmet need at the end of the process. There can be no assumption that even the best, most cost effective practice for every single case will result in the demand upon public resources coming within the budget if the aim is for all to have a reasonable quality of life.

Hannah – of course it is the case that sufficient resource is required to meet all needs for well-being. But the answer, when that is not the case, cannot be to allow your assessment of need to be so compromised that all the needs that cannot be met are vanished. I share your wish to see sufficiency of resource, but we need a process that pulls the democratic process in that direction, not one that lets it off the hook.

Colin I agree with your statements although I have also have some sympathy for LA’s who are trying to implement the SDS Act in Scotland – in a landscape of ever shrinking resources be it Providers and or budgets.
However as you say it is the RESPONSE to the above challenges which is key I believe we (social work) need to become more innovative, creative and transparent about how we allocate scant resources. SW should advocate for and empower individuals to seek real change, – focusing on outcomes as a starting point, whilst promoting each individuals basic human rights.

In this way a political debate may ensue.

I recall when I was a student on placement a social worker was told by an accountant(!) to amend her assessment as she had reflected an unmet need within it. The social worker turned a shade if crimson and refused. Never forgotten that!

Jason – the issue is not the gap between needs and resources, nor whether it is increasing or reducing. The issue is how councils respond to the gap.