Concerns are growing over the recruitment and retention of children’s social workers as figures show increasing numbers quitting the profession, leaving local authorities relying on agency staff to fill vacant posts.
Department for Education figures, published in February, show the number of children and family social workers who left their posts in 2021 was up by 16 per cent compared with 2020 – the highest number in five years.
Vacancies on 30 September last year also hit the highest level in five years.
The British Association of Social Workers’ (BASW) first annual state of social work survey shows just 23 per cent of social workers plan to stay in their current role over the next three years, with 15 per cent saying they want to leave the profession entirely.
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