More cash needed to support staff
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Children's charity NCH has called for more money to be spent on supporting social work staff.
Speaking at the CareandHealth conference on social work practices, the charity's chief executive Clare Tickell said support for social workers was crucial. "This is something that the Department for Children, Schools and Families has to take incredibly seriously."
Tickell commended the work the Children's Workforce Development Council has already done on the issue, but said that more funding was needed. "I don't see more money going into it," she said.
Les Lawrence, chair of the children and young people board of the Local Government Association, said the creation of a body similar to the School Teachers Review Body, which monitors pay and conditions, could help social workers feel valued. He added: "We have got to value, support and develop these people on the front line, not management or middle management."
