Frameworks for Decision-Making and Accountability

The next two chapters consider the law on how social work practice is conducted, demonstrating how legal frameworks offer positive and constructive contributions. This chapter’s focus is on the law that seeks to ensure the quality of practice. The chapter will first consider how different sources of law influence practice, before considering the law on social work decision-making, how it ensures professional accountability, the mechanisms it provides for representation, complaints and redress, and its mandate for barring people deemed unsuitable to work professionally. The chapter concludes with consideration of the contribution to quality made by registration and inspection of services.