Many children’s and youth services are experiencing staffing shortages and need to recruit new blood. Tom de Castella explores why some people change career to work in the sector.
Senior social worker Helen Gormley: “I’ve walked in the shoes of the people I’m supporting." Picture: BASW
Senior social worker Helen Gormley: “I’ve walked in the shoes of the people I’m supporting." Picture: BASW

Recruitment is an issue for many key public services and the children’s and youth sector is no exception.

Staff retention in children’s social services is a struggle that seems to get harder year by year. Research in 2019 by Bath Spa University suggests about 40 per cent of social workers are looking to leave the profession within the next 15 months.

The early years sector is also finding it increasingly difficult to recruit skilled staff. A survey by the National Day Nurseries Association for 2018/19 found the number of early years workers qualified to Level 3 had fallen from 83 per cent to barely half – 52 per cent. Almost half of all nursery staff leave the sector to work in retail.

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