DfE launches campaign to boost social work numbers
Jess Brown
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
A programme to retrain social workers who have left the profession has been launched as part of efforts to fill vacancies, it has been announced.
The Local Government Association (LGA), Department for Education and Department of Health have launched Come Back to Social Work, a campaign that will initially aim to recruit 30 experienced social workers who left the workforce between two and five years ago.
Successful applicants will be given 13 weeks' training to prepare them to re-register with the Health and Care Professions Council, with the view of re-entering the workforce early next year.
All applicants to the programme will be able to log on to the campaign's online jobs portal, where they can access a personal development plan for six months, and employers from councils will be able to access a "talent pool" of all applicants. If the scheme is successful it could be expanded.
The campaign is part of efforts to fill the rising number of social worker vacancies. Statistics released by the DfE in February this year showed that, as of 30 September 2015 there were 5,470 children's social work vacancies.
This compares with 4,320 as of September 2014 - a rise of 26.6 per cent.
Isabelle Trowler, chief social worker for children and families, said: "Those who have left social work to pursue other avenues still have a lot that they could offer to help improve the lives of our most vulnerable children, families and adults.
"The Come Back to Social Work pilot is a great way to help us learn how to overcome any perceived barriers to re-joining the profession and to encourage more former social workers to consider a return."
Izzi Seccombe, the LGA's community wellbeing board chairman, said the shortage of experienced social workers is reaching "crisis point".
"Many talented people have left or are leaving social work, and increased reliance on temporary workers is resulting in spiralling agency costs," she said.
"It is experienced social workers who might take career breaks after seven years that we are particularly hoping to tempt back through this campaign.
"It's easier than people think to come back to social work. This scheme will give 30 social workers the opportunity to retrain without cost."
