Data collated by the Department for Education shows that, as of September last year, there were 24,890 children’s social workers across England, the equivalent of 22,910 full-time positions.
However, councils said they require around 3,850 more social workers to fill an estimated 3,610 full-time equivalent posts – a vacancy rate of 14 per cent – meaning around one in seven jobs is unfilled.
The DfE statistics represent the first release of information as part of the children’s social care workforce data collection, which is to be published on an annual basis.
They show that across the country authorities have turned to agency social workers to fill vacancies.
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