Proposals to reduce the number of days students spend on social work jobs placements will not come into effect until the 2011-2012 academic year. The proposal seeks to cut placement hours by up to 35%.

Plans to reduce placement days from 200 to 130 for people studying to become qualified social workers in England have been among the more controversial proposals made by the Social Work Task Force. Its report in 2009 suggested that the reduction would free up more time for universities to focus on academic theory and encourage a higher quality of placement, after concerns that many students were not getting meaningful experience of the reality of social work jobs.

The Social Work Task Force's recommendations have, in principle, been accepted by the Government and a timescale for reform is expected in a forthcoming implementation plan.

Steve Myers, director of social work at Salford University, has said that an early deadline of implementing the proposals for the 2010-2011 academic year was unlikely, as it would leave little time for social work programmes to reform.

The proposals have been backed by the Association of Professors of Social Work. Sue White, chair of the organisation, said that academics supported the advice on placements "because quality is more important than quantity". However, White has also raised concerns that having students spend additional time on campus would require additional teaching resources, as well as having a possible impact on the amount of time academic staff can spend conducting research to help secure University funding.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that the Taskforce recommendations "may take time to implement, particularly with respect to social work education. There will be a clear period of notification before any changes come into force".