Challenges remain in social work retention and recruitment

LGA press release - 11 November 2009

Thousands of frontline children’s social workers are feared to have turned their backs on the profession in the wake of the backlash over the death of baby Peter Connolly, council leaders warned today, as new figures showed staff retention problems have increased by 50% in the past year.

A survey carried out by the Local Government Association Group has found six out of ten councils experiencing recruitment and retention difficulties have trouble retaining the social workers who protect children, up from four out of ten councils twelve months ago. This is more than double the number of councils reporting retention problems for adult social work, the second most affected area.

The latest survey says the worsening problems come despite a third of councils (34%) which are experiencing recruitment and retention difficulties boosting salaries for children’s social workers by offering market supplements.

Twelve months ago the LGA warned that people considering a career in children’s social work could be scared away because of the vilification of a handful of individuals following the case of Peter Connolly in Haringey. Separate research found around nine out of 10 councils believed the case had had a negative impact on staff morale.

The LGA was the first body to propose encouraging former social workers back into the profession in the aftermath of the Haringey case, a project for which central government then provided funding. Efforts to promote social work as a career on a national level are continuing, and successful local schemes are already starting to stem the tide of departures in some areas.

Council initiatives to improve recruitment and retention rates among children’s social workers include:

• A training academy set up by Hertfordshire County Council, offering reduced case-loads and specialist training to 30 newly qualified social workers each year
• A free return-to-work course for former social workers being offered by West Sussex County Council, backed up by a dedicated website promoting social work careers.
• The creation of more than 30 new children’s social work posts by Liverpool City Council, backed up by two programmes to support trainees, which attracted more than 120 applicants.

Cllr Shireen Ritchie, Chair of the LGA’s Children and Young People board, said:

“Children’s social workers protect thousands of children from neglect and abuse on a daily basis, but these dedicated staff have been put through the mill. The vilification of children’s social workers has increased the risk of harm to some children by opening up gaps in the safety net which works so hard to protect them.

“Councils have a job to do to make sure social workers feel valued and supported. Different programmes to recruit and develop children’s social workers are being provided by town halls across the country depending on what their local areas need.

“People who care about the safety of children should understand that social workers are the solution, not the problem. During the past 12 months too many social workers have clearly decided the strain of this difficult work is more than they can handle. The commitment of those who have remained must not be underestimated.”

ENDS

Author: LGA Media Office

Contact: LGA Media Office, Tel: 020 7664 3333

Notes to editors

Ten local authority occupations most frequently reported with retention difficulties in 2008 and 2009

Base: Bases for retention difficulties vary for professions, as not all occupation types are employed by each type of authority.

All authorities: chartered surveyors, engineering professionals, legal professionals, planning officers (95). Excluding county councils:  building control officers, environmental health officers (84). Excluding shire districts: adult’s social workers, children’s social workers, mental health social workers, occupational therapists (adults), teachers (65).

Ten local authority occupations most frequently reported with recruitment difficulties in 2008 and 2009

Base: Bases for recruitment difficulties vary for professions, as not all occupation types are employed by each type of authority.

All authorities: legal professionals, planning officers (95). Excluding county councils: building control officers, environmental health officers (84). Excluding shire districts: adult’s social workers, children’s social workers, mental health social workers, occupational therapists (adults), school crossing patrol attendants, teachers, trading standards officers (65).

The survey was conducted by the LGA Group’s Analysis and Research team, on behalf of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Local Government Employers (LGE).

All Heads of Human Resources (or equivalent position) in England were asked to complete the online survey between June and August 2009. The final response rate achieved was 58 per cent (206 authorities).

The full research report will be published later in November.

Separate research into the public perception of social workers and their morale was carried out in the spring and is detailed here http://www.lga.gov.uk/lga/core/page.do?pageId=2182557

For more information about the Hertfordshire academy contact Nuala Milbourn, Deputy Media Manager, 01992 588535, or see http://www.hertsdirect.org/jobs/specialist/socialworkers/straighttalking/

For more information about the West Sussex scheme contact Nigel Galloway, Press Officer, 01243 777722 or see http://www.nolimitsatwestsussex.co.uk/index.htm

For more information about the Liverpool programme contact Damian Richards-Clarke, News Officer, on 0151 225 2464.