News

Supporting Social Work in Scotland

Today, World Social Work Day, highlights the vital role of social work internationally, and in Scotland, welcomes the launch of the National Social Work Agency (NSWA). The RMA are proud to mark this day, and join in promoting the contributions of the profession to individuals, families and our wider communities.

Since 2022, the RMA has participated in a multi-agency reference group with the Scottish Government and partners to inform and help shape revised social work throughcare guidance. The National Throughcare Guidance for Justice Social Work Services outlines best practice approaches for delivering effective throughcare and sets out key policies, procedures and frameworks.

Throughcare guidance supports connecting two elements: services provided during the custodial sentence, and those provided on release back into the community. We’re pleased to have contributed to this operational guidance to ensure that risk assessment and management practice is in line with our national policy, Framework for Risk Assessment, Management and Evaluation (FRAME), which advocates for a consistent, evidence-based and proportionate approach, which supports practice at minimal, comprehensive and intensive levels. 

This new throughcare guidance replaces material that is now more than 20 years old. Over that period, there have been many significant and wide‑ranging developments—not least the introduction of the FRAME policy. The RMA welcomes the fact that the new guidance makes explicit reference to the FRAME principles and standards, which should underpin all aspects of Justice Social Work assessment and management planning practice“

Ian McIntosh, Effective Practice Lead

Alongside our ongoing Fundamentals of Risk Practice Training delivery, we look forward to continuing to learn from and support our colleagues working in prison-based social work and community-based social work to help Make Scotland Safer.