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Following the Baby P case we take a look at the front line recruitment trends in the social services sector and ask is the additional funding for staffing too little too late?
For the most part there has been a shortage of good social workers, which has created the need for temporary and interim social workers to share what appears to be an ever increasing case load in a number of social services departments; particularly in the London Boroughs. And it’s fair to say that those working on a temporary basis can achieve a better pay rate than their permanent couterparts.
More recently, however, we have seen a surge in funding in many departments as a way to ensure that cases like Baby P don’t happen again. This means that departments have either been able to increase their permanent headcount by offering competitive salaries or for those who are really struggling to meet their targets, are increasing their rates for temporary social workers – all in a bid to secure the best talent and improve consistency and communication of service.
The interview came to an abrupt end when I informed her that she would be managing some child protection cases.
However, despite the increases in salaries and rates on offer, we are seeing that a number of front-line social care workers are reticent to stay at the coal face. Fear of being directly involved in a Baby P case, has caused many to consider roles in the strategic part of the business. A trend, which if it continues, could mean a huge loss in experience in the front-line arena.
Although the media frenzy around the Baby P case has highlighted some of the challenges that social services departments face, it has created a fear amongst those who would have otherwise joined the profession. We expect to see the numbers of those who are toying with a career in social care to think twice.
A Practice Manager of a London Borough agrees: “As a front line manager I am of the view that the media attention surrounding the death of Baby P has had a detrimental impact on the recruitment of social workers. For example recently I was interviewing a prospective social worker candidate; however the interview came to an abrupt end when I informed her that she would be managing some child protection cases. The Borough that I am currently working for has recently been recruiting for Family Support Workers who will manage a Child In Need case load, the vast majority of the applicants were newly qualified social workers who do not want to manage any Child Protection cases.
Front line workers have various opinions as to how we could tackle this problem such as increased salaries and protected case loads, which I do think would somewhat help the current decline in recruiting social workers. However, how do we stop the fear that the media has created for social workers that if a child dies as a result of abuse from their parent or carer it will be the social worker who is named, shamed and blamed for the child’s death? For me this almost seems an impossible task and thus will deter many considering a profession in social work.”
It’s at this time more than ever that employers in this field need to engage wth their existing and potential employees. Salaries will go some way to attract and retain the best talent however we know that career planning and training are key to securing and keeping them. It’s also a time for social services departments to review their employer branding to continue seeing a steady flow of people join the profession.
7 Comments
Given the horific circumstances of the death of Baby P and the systematic failure of the professionals tasked with protecting his welfare I find this article particularly distasteful. The highlighting of the case by the media was not a frenzy but an accurate description of the failures associated with the case. The reality of the situation was that the head of the department was named but did not display any shame despite serious public dismay and revulsion she was intent on retaining a position she had shown scant ability to undertake.
If the media coverage does impress on social workers that working for child welfare is one that carries a massive burden of responsibility then I say that is a job well done. There are too many arms of government not being held to account and this article indicates a shoot the messenger attitude that I feel would be unacceptable to the vast majority of British people.
I am sorry to hear you feel this article is distasteful, John. Certainly nobody is denying the horrific nature of the Baby P incident, nor are we passing comment on the individuals concerned. We are simply reporting the effects that this situation has had, and is anticipated to continue having, on staffing within the profession.
I think we as a society need to accept that we all have responsibilities for the protection of children. Society creates the context in which terrible things can happen. We can’t look for scapegoats.
Oh how silly of me I should have known it was societies fault.
The media’s reporting, as so often in child abuse cases, was highly selective and inacccurate. For example, around half the 60 plus meetings with the mother werre with the police, doctors and health visitors. They collectively agreed with social services that Baby P should stay in the mother’s care. Among them, only the mother knew that her sadistic boyfriend with a track record of cruelty had moved in – social services were unaware of this crucial fact. A consultant paediatrician did not spot the child’s broken back. The media, in the main, haven’t made much of these points because it’s simpler and sells better to blame social workers. The challenge for childrens’ services departments and recruiters is to create working environments that are well resourced so those on the front line have the time, space and support they need to think the unthinkable about their clients – to imagine what might be going on behind closed doors and handle this stress.
You can read some additional opinions on this topic at:
Jobs plea to ex-social workers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7919725.stm
‘I’m proud to be a social worker’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7727809.stm
Baby P case ‘may scare off staff’
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7775857.stm
I do not directly work in this field but my current post involves working with families and occassionally been involved in child protection cases. I am very much aware of the difficulties relating to child protection lack of staff, funding, training communication, sharing information etc. Due to the horror of what happened to baby P. I personally feel that someone should be held accountable and was. Anybody working in this field or is about to work in this field should not be threatened by baby P and should welcome the opportunity to make good out of a really bad thing. Chucking money at people to encourage them to work in this field in my opion will only attract those who are interested in the money and not the post.