Recruiting and retaining social workers is a national struggle in the wake of the ‘Baby P' case, the LGA has warned. A survey of councillors in charge of children's services revealed three out of five councils were experiencing difficulties in recruiting children's social workers. Two out of five councils reported difficulties retaining staff. Following the latest conviction of adults involved in the case, council leaders said a long-term drive was needed to raise the status and recruitment of social workers, similar to that which had transformed the teaching profession over the last decade.