Some 4,995 full-time equivalent children’s social workers left posts within the sector in the year to 30 September 2021, statistics show.
The figure is 16 per cent higher than the number of leavers in 2020 and the highest number in five years, DfE says.
Leavers are social workers who left a social worker post at a local authority in the year ending 30 September, the report states.
This includes social workers who are staying at a local authority, but moving to a non-child and family role, for example moving to adult social care, and those continuing as children’s social workers but moving to a different local authority.
Leavers also include social workers who have begun a career break, those seconded out of an organisation or those leaving the profession altogether.
The report warns that the gap between children and family social workers starting and leaving the profession within the same year is narrowing.
“As in recent years, there were more children and family social worker starters than leavers, but the gap between the two continued to narrow,” it states.
The number of children’s social worker vacancies at local authorities is also at its highest in five years, according to the report, with 6,522 unfilled full-time equivalent positions recorded on 30 September 2021, seven per cent more than on the same date a year previous.
The figures come despite the number of both full-time equivalent children and family social workers and agency social workers in post also reaching its highest rate in five years.
There were 32,500 full-time equivalent children and family social workers in post on 30 September 2021, an increase of two per cent compared with the same point in 2020.
Meanwhile, there were 5,977 agency social workers in post on the same date, an increase of three per cent compared with the same point in 2020.
A full-time equivalent social worker’s average caseload currently stands at 16.3. The figure remains unchanged from 2020 but down from 16.9 in 2019.
However, BASW warns that a combination of “unmanageable caseloads, rising pressures and a lack of resources” and “years of chronic underfunding in social services” is forcing social workers to leave the profession.
A statement from the social work body said: “Frustratingly, these figures are not a surprise. We have been warning the government for years now about rising vacancy rates and the intent from social workers, especially older, more experienced professionals, to leave the profession.
“Without a fully staffed and resourced workforce, we will not be able to meet our obligations as individuals and teams will be overstretched.
“The sector continues to face challenges from years of chronic underfunding in social services. If there is serious intent by the Government to address child protection failures, giving the sector the resource and funding it desperately needs must happen urgently.”
