Few questions can be more emotive. Who is going to look after us when we are old? It's a dilemma individuals and families face almost inevitably. But society, too, has to find answers. Who should provide care and, crucially, who should pay for it?

Mike Wardle, the chief executive of the General Social Care Council (GSCC), puts it starkly. “What price do we put on care for older people?” he asks. “How much do we value old age?”

The questions are becoming more urgent. An ageing society means fewer taxable workers. At present there are five people of working age for every person of retirement age; in 20 years' time, this will have fallen to only two.

“The demography is quite frightening. We are getting older and the working population is getting smaller,” he says.

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For Wardle, it's a matter of concern. The GSCC was established in 2001 to raise the professional standards of social work through codes of practice and to regulate training and recruitment. It's a huge sector, employing more than 1.2 million people. But already it is 10 per cent short of the numbers needed.

Wardle acknowledges that most people will have to fund their own care to an extent. It calls for the relationship between the individual, State and family to be redefined, he says. “It's right that people take some responsibility for providing for themselves and their family.” But the State must contribute: elderly people often can't fund their own support, he says.

“The Government is spending a lot on social care. Whether it's enough to provide the outcomes that we want to see for our older people is where the debate starts happening.”

Before social work can close the labour gap, it needs to improve its reputation, he acknowledges. The problem, he feels, is that most people don't know what social workers do. “It's a very difficult job and one that most of us don't come into contact with. Social workers engage with people on the margins of society.”

The oldest and youngest are most vulnerable. But children's social workers are too

often demonised as fracturing families unnecessarily, he says. While neglect or abuse is always unacceptable, the oft-maligned profession suffers from low morale, he says. “It's right that social workers are criticised when things go wrong - it's part of accountability. But they rarely get praised for the interventions they make which keep children safe.” The rest of the public sector can be unsympathetic, he adds.

A study by the National Foundation for Educational Research found that teachers were “resistant” to social workers. Wardle says that both professions need to look at all children's development outcomes. “Social workers looking to ensure the child's safety haven't paid as much attention to educational outcomes; teachers; haven't paid as much attention to the social needs of the child.”

However, there are encouraging signs. An increase in the number of social workers on site in schools is helping to improve understanding, he says. The Social Care Register, created in 2003, made social workers accountable to a set of national standards for the first time. The register is being widened to include domiciliary and residential care workers.

Becoming a regulated profession has been an injection of pride, he says. “It's had a tangible effect on self-esteem.” A new degree in social work has attracted entrants. Last year, social work came in the top 10 per cent of graduate salaries.

Wardle is determined that the profession will eventually get the recognition it deserves. “In 20 years' time I want to be able to say that public perception of social workers has gone through the roof,” he says.

Born: May 6, 1964, Hampshire.
Career: Department for Education, various roles, 1983-93; project officer, Community Service Volunteers Education Advisory Service, 1985-86; Further Education Funding Council, 1993-97; Principal private secretary to David Blunkett, the Education Secretary, 1998-2001; Director of Standards and Regulation, GSCC, 2002-04; Deputy chief executive; 2004-07.
What he says: “You should never forget your children - they're the ones who choose your care plan.”
Little-known fact: Has just started teaching himself the ukulele.

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