CYP Now - Motivate staff in a time of austerity

It can be tough to maintain staff morale as funding dwindles and caseloads expand, but there are some simple approaches managers can take to boost motivation and even help their workers feel joy.

Michael Sanders is executive director of the What Works for Children’s Social Care

Staff morale and motivation are an important part of the delivery of any public service and perhaps nowhere more so than in children’s services. The stakes are incredibly high – the welfare and futures of children and young people – but so are the pressures. The sector is becoming increasingly demanding and complex, with a growing emphasis on issues such as educational attainment, child and adolescent mental health, knife crime, and child sexual and criminal exploitation. All of this exists within an environment of constrained financial circumstances and a shortage of qualified staff. Perhaps it is unsurprising then that 15 per cent of social workers leave the profession each year, and one in five teachers plan to leave in the next two years.

Register Now to Continue Reading

Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's Included