Those working in senior social work jobs should speak out about how spending cuts will affect the most vulnerable, public trade union UNISON has said.

At the Holyrood conference in Edinburgh, on personal and social care provision, Stephen Smellie, chair of the union's Social Work Issues Group warned that whilst major cuts in social care are expected, the consequences for those currently benefiting from their services would be drastic.

According to the Public Service website he told those attending: "Many voices, from the Association of Directors of Social Work, to CoSLA, from the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition UK government to media appointed commentators, are telling us jobs need to be cut, services need to be reduced and families need to do more for their sick, disabled, young and elderly relatives.''

"We believe those who wish to lead the sector must be vociferous in explaining the very real consequences of budget cuts. They should be standing up for quality services and warning what could happen if deep cuts are made."

He claimed that accepting the cuts would result in social workers having to spend less time assessing a person's personal needs and more time assessing exactly what services and support they can afford.

"Social work leaders need to raise their voices beyond saying, 'the options are to cut this or cut that'. They need to argue and fight for the services that so many vulnerable people rely on," he added.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) also announced that they have told the government that whilst they would do their best to achieve efficiencies, they were unlikely to deliver the level of savings required.

The ADASS argued that there should be a sustainable solution to the funding of adult social care and an approach used that makes the most of existing resources.