The evaluation of the new social work degree qualification in England : wider perspectives

The phased introduction of the new degree level professional qualification in the United Kingdom provides an ideal opportunity for ensuring that debates about social work education in the UK are set within a broader European perspective. Until now, the refusal of the UK government of the time to make changes in line with a European Union (EU) directive of 1989 which declared common recognition for all social work courses of minimally three years study in higher education at degree level leading to entry to a regulatory profession, meant that British social work awards were not recognised in other EU countries. Ironically, faced with a recruitment crisis at home, social work employers have been recruiting internationally qualified social workers from overseas and, since 1990, nearly 10,000 such social workers have applied to have letters of verification to allow them to practise in the UK