Social workers returning to the profession after a long break often find themselves at the bottom of the heap, despite their many years of experience.
But things are different in education and health circles, finds Katie Leason.

Social workers

Turning up for work after a break that may have spanned several years is a daunting prospect. For social workers the break will probably have coincided with upheavals in policy, practice and organisation, leaving returning staff feeling out of touch.

Yet despite the high vacancy levels for social workers up and down the UK there is insufficient support available for those who want to return to the profession. In some cases social workers have, on their return, found themselves at the bottom of the salary scale despite having years of experience before they took their break.

As it is down to individual employers to make arrangements to update the skills of workers who have taken a career break, the quality of the support varies from area to area.

There is no nationally approved refresher course for those wanting to rejoin the profession and many in the sector believe one should be introduced.

But how does the situation for social workers compare with related professions? Do they offer return to work paths that social work would be wise to copy?

Teachers

About 13,000 teachers returned to the classroom in 2002 after breaks. It isn’t necessary to attend a returners’ course before taking up a post but courses are available.

These are designed to update teachers on developments in education and give them the opportunity to brush up on rusty teaching skills via a supported school placement.

The courses are free, last between six and 12 weeks, and are run by local education authorities, universities and colleges. They are offered full-time and part-time and are available nationally. They cover topics such as the national curriculum, literacy and numeracy strategies, and classroom and behaviour management. Distance learning courses are also an option.

Those on a Teacher Training Agency-funded returners’ course are entitled to a training bursary of £150 per week for the duration of the course. In addition financial help is available for child care.

For teachers who have not taught for seven years or more, intensive returners’ courses are available. An individualised training programme is put together consisting of between 140 and 165 taught hours as well as a supported school placement of at least four weeks.

The National Union of Teachers says such refresher courses are crucial. “So much change will have taken place in the time they have been out of teaching. There are so many initiatives coming from government that it is crucial that returning teachers have a reintroduction to what is happening in the profession,” says a spokesperson.

Midwives

Midwives who have practised for fewer than 100 working days or 750 hours in the past five years are required to do a return to midwifery practice programme.

The programmes are designed according to individual needs and are run throughout the UK. They are run in partnership with universities and the NHS and consist of a period of theory and practice.

The courses vary according to the midwife’s experience and how long they have been away. A midwife who has not been working for five years will need to do about four weeks’ practice in a maternity unit. Someone who has been away for 20 years will need to do six months.

A distance learning programme has also been developed by the Royal College of Midwives in collaboration with the Open University. It has been accredited at diploma and degree level through Sheffield Hallam University and allows midwives to start a returners’ programme when it is convenient for them.

The returning midwife will not have to pay for the return to practice programme and help is available for child care, books and travel. A training bursary of at least £1,500 is also available. On these courses midwives spend time in maternity units, but here there are sometimes difficulties, says Carol Bates, professional development adviser at the Royal College of Midwives. “An individual on a return to practice course has to be mentored by a qualified, experienced midwife. With staff shortages it is difficult to do this,” she says.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists who have taken a career break are not required to do any particular training before they return to practice. However, new requirements for registering with the Health Professions Council, which regulates the profession, are to be introduced in July for those who have been out for two years or more.

Currently, organised refresher courses for occupational therapists are not available, and “re-orientation” schemes tend to be provided in the workplace under supervision. This may involve spending time in different departments, going on placements and attending training programmes. It could also involve joining in teaching and practical sessions on a university occupational therapy programme.

Return to practice education is free and those retraining will receive at least £1,000 to support them. There is also help available for child care, travel and books.

The College of Occupational Therapists says that people who have had a career break will need reorientation and updating when they return to work, and that all will have different needs. It suggests people who want to return to work should contact the local occupational therapy service manager to find out about vacancies and help available for updating skills.

Julia Skelton, group head of practice at the College of Occupational Therapists, says that social workers and occupational therapists could potentially share refresher training. But, she adds: “There may be generalised issues such as the policy context and the environment but there may also be more specific training needs.”

Nurses

Trained nurses who have been out of the profession for five years or more need to go on a return to practice course. These are free, offered all over the country and are made up of theory and clinical practice. The returner’s status on clinical placements will be supernumerary, so they will not be a vital part of the team.

The return to practice courses are run according to demand and may be available on a part-time basis. Financial support of at least £1,000 is available during the course, and help with travel, books and child care may also be possible. Each nurse attending a return to practice course will be allocated two mentors, a tutor in higher education and a practising nurse on the ward.

Sue Howard, education adviser at the Royal College of Nursing, says that the return to practice courses are crucial as people are not able to go back to work without attending.

The NHS Careers website states that while there is no guarantee that a returner will get the job they want, they will be eligible to join the local bank offering part-time work on a flexible basis. However, it says that often people on return to practice courses find jobs in the wards or units where they did their clinical placements.