Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Social Workers
Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Social Workers
Recruitment and Retention of Qualified Social Workers
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3.2 Key data for Hertfordshire Child Protection teams<br />
3.3<br />
2010 April October<br />
Establishment 187 187<br />
In post 126 154<br />
Vacancy 59 33<br />
Agency cover 49 33<br />
Academy in post 27 30<br />
3.4 Hertfordshire’s proximity to London, where salaries are higher, affects<br />
recruitment/retention rates. The target caseload for a <strong>Qualified</strong> <strong>Social</strong><br />
Worker (QSW) in a Locality Team is 12 – 15 cases. The current average<br />
caseload in Hertfordshire is up to 20 cases, <strong>and</strong> in some instances (for<br />
example where there is more than one child within a family who requires<br />
a QSW) the caseload can be higher. Turnover in Assessment Teams is<br />
higher: here the target caseload is 20 – 25 cases, but actual caseload<br />
has at times been as high as 40 – 50 in Hertfordshire. Lord Laming<br />
recommended a caseload <strong>of</strong> no more than 20 cases for an assessment<br />
QSW <strong>and</strong> 10 – 12 for a locality QSW. On average three social workers<br />
per month leave the authority.<br />
3.5 Poor inspection results can lead to associated reputational risk. The<br />
latter can increase the recruitment problem, as good social workers are<br />
unlikely to want to work for an authority with a poor reputation.<br />
4.0 What are the current <strong>and</strong> emerging issues for recruitment &<br />
retention <strong>of</strong> <strong>Qualified</strong> <strong>Social</strong> <strong>Workers</strong><br />
4.1 Exit interviews <strong>and</strong> focus groups with current staff have been used to<br />
establish what the issues are leading to staff departure. Workload,<br />
management support, excessive hours, stress management <strong>and</strong> career<br />
progression have all been highlighted. There is an issue with the focus<br />
groups as attendance could be improved. It does not hear from people<br />
with time pressures or who do not prioritise it, for whatever reason. The<br />
Group believe it is important to improve hearing the views <strong>of</strong> a crosssection<br />
<strong>of</strong> staff <strong>and</strong> would like CSF to consider ways <strong>of</strong> engaging with all<br />
staff.<br />
4.2 <strong>Social</strong> workers use the Integrated Children System (ICS). Ofsted<br />
regarded its implementation as a strength; however QSWs view ICS as<br />
not being user friendly, extremely laborious <strong>and</strong> very repetitive. CSF has<br />
invested heavily in Superusers to assist staff. Superusers have provided<br />
invaluable support; with current financial pressures the future funding for<br />
Superusers is uncertain.<br />
4