Barnet: Overseas social workers boost understanding of different cultures

Despite its recruitment campaign coinciding with the Covid pandemic the council successfully appointed five social workers from Hong Kong, South Africa, and Australia.

The north London council had hoped they would join the council at the same time to take up roles within child protection teams but their arrivals were staggered over a 10-month period due to restrictions to international travel.

Candidates from these countries were selected because their practice models are more like England’s, explains Barnet’s director of early help and children’s social care Tina McElligott.

When they first arrived, they were placed in university accommodation near to the council offices that wasn’t being used due to the pandemic “as a base to resettle them”.

Resettlement support included help sourcing places to live – with their families – as well as supporting their applications to register with Social Work England. Their accommodation was paid for during their first two months in the UK.

The new staff members didn’t hold any cases during their first three months. “We felt it was really important that they sat alongside the team and were given time to learn how we practice,” says McElligott. This included learning how social work law operates in England.

Aside from filling vacant posts, overseas workers bring wider benefits, McElligott explains.

“It is good to have people who understand different cultures who can give us insight into local communities. That understanding benefits our workforce,” she says.

More than two years on, two of these social workers are still working for the council.

Barnet is planning a further recruitment campaign this year, targeting similar countries and areas, most notably Hong Kong.