OPINION Priority now must be to keep social workers, not lose them It is all too easy in these austere times to look ahead with a sense of foreboding. My first hope in this election year is that, however unrealistically given how it has started, peace ultimately prevails. Not just in terms of those international big conflicts that seem to be breaking out on all sides, but also on the home front for all those people we work with who survive Christmas and new year, and now have to cope with the reality of life day to day. Come the general election I hope for a government (of whichever political persuasion) that understands that cuts affect real people, and one that makes realistic plans to reduce the budget deficit not try to pretend (or persuade us) that its possible to repay this in a year or two. Come on, guys! We arent silly, so stop pretending we are. Oh, and on the subject of governments, please stop trying to reinvent the profession (again) without looking at how the original social work reform programme is working. There are some amazing social workers out there doing a brilliant job against the odds. The issue isnt initial social work education any more; its the environments we work in, and the pressures we have to put up with from regulators and others that are the problem. So my hope for 2015 is that we stop looking at initial education and focus instead on how to keep people in the profession for the long haul. And finally I hope for the continuing growth of professional confidence represented by The College, and its members, and our willingness to stand up for ourselves and in the immortal words of Lord Adebowale from our first annual conference last year, speak truth to power. 2015? Bring it on! Claire Barcham manages an emergency duty team in London CLAIRE BARCHAM Stop trying to reinvent the profession without looking at how the original reform programme is working