This service is managed by Health and Community Care
Chief Social Work Officer
The Chief Social Work Officer (CSWO) is a statutory role required by law. The post holder provides professional advice on all social work and social care functions carried out by Orkney Islands Council, whether delivered directly, in partnership with other agencies, or commissioned from the private or third sector.
The CSWO must be a qualified social worker, registered with the Scottish Social Services Council, with extensive experience at senior operational and strategic level. The current Chief Social Work Officer is Darren Morrow.
What the Chief Social Work Officer does
The CSWO's responsibilities cover the full range of social work and social care services in Orkney. These include:
Promoting and upholding professional values and standards, including the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice, and making sure these are communicated, applied and reviewed regularly.
Advising on workforce planning, safe recruitment, staff development and quality assurance across all social work services.
Making sure only registered social workers carry out functions reserved to them in law, and that appropriate governance arrangements are in place to manage risk, need and civil liberties in line with professional standards.
Overseeing the quality of practice and supervision, promoting continuous improvement and evidence-based good practice, and ensuring services remain focused on the needs of the people who use them.
Making final decisions on behalf of the Council in relation to statutory social work matters, including adoption, secure accommodation and guardianship orders.
Ensuring that significant case reviews are carried out into critical incidents resulting in, or which may have resulted in, death or serious harm.
Advising on the specification, quality and standards of services commissioned from external providers.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and elected members on social work matters, performance, learning and improvement activity.
Annual Reports
The CSWO is required to produce an annual report to the Council on the statutory, governance and leadership functions of the role. Reports from the last five years are available to download below.
Related resources
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CSWO Annual Report 2023-24
This document contains the Chief Social Work Officer’s annual report for Orkney Islands Council for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It reviews governance, performance and activity across adult, children and families, mental health and justice services, including protection work, care placements, support at home and staff training. It reports progress in child protection, care-experienced young people’s attainment and service inspections, while highlighting pressures from an ageing population, recruitment difficulties, rising demand and funding, including a £5.609 million overspend for the wider health and social care partnership.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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CSWO Annual Report 2022-23
This document contains the Chief Social Work Officer’s annual report for Orkney Islands Council and the Orkney Health and Social Care Partnership for 2022/23. It covers adult, children and families, mental health and justice services, including key activity figures and inspection findings. It outlines improvements in protection and care services, alongside challenges with recruitment, staffing, rising demand and funding. The report also summarises the balanced year-end budget and staff training and development.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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CSWO Annual Report 2021-22
This document contains the Chief Social Work Officer’s annual report for Orkney Islands Council and the Orkney Health and Social Care Partnership for 2021/22. It covers social work and social care services for children, adults and older people, including protection, mental health, justice and care at home. The report outlines service improvements, inspection findings, training, finances and the continuing impact of COVID-19. It also highlights challenges around recruitment, staffing capacity, funding and rising demand.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
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CSWO Annual Report 2020-21
This document contains the Chief Social Work Officer’s annual report for Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Health and Care for 2020/21. It covers adult, mental health, criminal justice, children and families, protection and care services, including key activity and spending information. It also reports on improvements following inspection, the effects of COVID-19, and ongoing challenges with recruitment, staffing, funding and rising demand for care.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.