Social workers
Bexley’s six pillars
Jacky Tiotto describes the six elements that drove the overall improvement and development of children’s services in Bexley LBC and took the council from an Ofsted judgement of inadequacy in 2012 to an outstanding rating in 2018
Making changes and building evidence in children’s social care
Michael Sanders outlines how the What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care is working with partner councils to gather evidence on the impacts of two projects - devolving budgets to social workers and co-locating social workers in schools.
Four in 10 social workers want to quit
Four out of 10 social workers want to leave the profession due to chronically poor working conditions, a new study has found.
High staff turnover at 'inadequate' Gloucestershire
Too many Gloucestershire children are experiencing frequent changes of social worker more than a year after the county council was judged inadequate by Ofsted.
Delay to apprenticeship scheme
Plans for a child and family social worker apprenticeship have been hit by delays.
'Radical approach' to improve Surrey's children's services
Surrey CC will take a ‘radical approach’ to improving its inadequate children’s services in a bid to avoid a Department for Education (DfE) takeover, councillors will be told.
Council has taken 'too long' to improve
Reading Council has improved services for young people leaving care since an inadequate Ofsted inspection two years ago.
Five councils to trial social workers scheme
The new national assessment and accreditation system (NAAS) for child and family social workers is expected to be rolled out to five areas this month.
Funding call to end 'postcode lottery'
MPs today called for more funds to help end a so-called postcode lottery for children’s services.
A contact sport
The BASW is taking the lead in highlighting the relationship issues social workers are encountering, in particular the struggle to make regular face to face contact with children. Maris Stratulis explains.
Protect our social workers from violence
Social workers should be given the same protection from violence as emergency workers, according to sector bodies.
More hard work required at Barnet
Senior leaders at Barnet LBC are ‘fully aware there are still areas of considerable challenge before practice is of a good standard,’ Ofsted has reported.
Children's services blow for new chiefs
Surrey CC’s children’s services are still inadequate, according to Ofsted – three years after they received the same grade.
Affluent parents can 'undermine' abuse investigations
City of London Council will train social workers to deal with affluent parents after research showed they can use their status to undermine abuse investigations.
How to plug the EU workforce gap
A new report from CIPFA’s Brexit commission urges a planned strategy for maintaining EU workforce skills, including at regional level through the combined authorities. Michael Burton reports.
Union warning over Northamptonshire pay freeze
Trade unions and opposition councillors this week criticised Northamptonshire CC’s decision to freeze staff pay – warning it will exacerbate existing recruitment and retention problems.
Groundbreaking review praises Leeds
Leeds City Council’s services for children in care have been praised following a ground-breaking review by Ofsted.
Workforce shortages put more strain on the system
After auditors warned of a looming crisis in the recruitment and retention of care workers, Paul Burstow outlines why supporting unpaid carers in employment is increasingly vital.
Recruitment and retention: Who will be left to care in the future?
Auditors, academics, practitioners and unions are pointing to the recruitment and retention issues in adult social care as one of the country’s biggest domestic issues. Mark Conrad examines the problem.
Council investment after inadequate rating
Gloucestershire CC has invested in staff, casework reduction and administration amid warnings the pace of improvements to its children’s services is too slow.