Social Work Departments were established under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 which brought together the functions of health, welfare and care of children. Social Work was a regional responsibility after local government re-organisation in 1975 and then transferred to the unitary authorities in 1996. The 1968 Act was a wholesale reform of the concept of providing welfare assistance and was a major factor in bringing about the two-tier system of local government in 1975