News

We asked:- Is recruiting overseas a cost-effective way of tackling the recruitment crisis?

Here are some of the comments we received:-

"I am an American social worker, working in Leicester City, England. I recently read an article in Community Care magazine's Sept 8-14 edition, which had an article on American social worker's working in the UK. Is there anyone I could contact about getting in touch? There are a few other American social workers that I work with in Leicester and I know they would love to be in contact with others from home as well. Anyone who would like to get ion touch please contact me on wendyc_08026@yahoo.com"

 
Wendy Cunningham


"Recruiting overseas workers has a place within our society and in my experience has been positive, as a learning curve for new approaches and a host of knowledge and work practices that may not have previously been considered. However setting this aside I have to say I fail to understand why as an unqualified worker in social care for the last 15years, the government (present and past), continues to overlook the experience, knowledge and skills of such people on their own doorstep.

To my knowledge, this country has had a shortfall of social workers for a considerable time, and fill shortfalls with overseas workers, failing to acknowledge or fund the dedicated social care workers who very often in the past have also held high numbers of complex cases to enable children and families to access a service and support, that maybe otherwise they would not have received. 

I have over the years met many such people who, due to their family circumstances, cannot afford to give up their jobs to fund qualifications needed. I am in the same situation. In my way of thinking surely it would be more cost effective to utilise and train existing very experienced personnel.  Surely quick fix solutions will never prove to be cost effective either now or in the future, not to mention quality of services for the future of the vulnerable in our society.” 

L. Davison

“After trying desperately to recruit locally with every initiative and strategy available, I'm now at the end of the road.

I feel satisfied that my company has tried everything to offer employment within the locality that it operates in, but now feel that our only avenue is to recruit over seas.”
 
Roger Bayliss
CARE 2 U LTD
WALSALL

“I was pleased to see profiles of the Americans contributing to social services in the United Kingdom in your September 2005 issue and agree that recruiting social workers from the US is an effective way to deal with social worker recruitment crisis in the UK.

I am also an American social worker who moved to the UK in March 2005 to work for the London Borough of Croydon following a recruitment drive in New York. 

The London Borough of Croydon just hired more than 20 American social workers over the past year. It appears this practice is becoming quite common.  With fewer British citizens wanting to become social workers and American social workers seeking to experience a different culture, this is a plus on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Kathy Southard
Senior Social Worker
Children’s Services
Croydon Council  

“I am generally in favour of the recruitment of overseas social workers as this adds to the diversity of the department.  The fact that these workers have different experiences and methodology brings a fresh opportunity for home grown workers to examine their own practice and expand their horizons. 

I work in Newham (one of the London Boroughs recruiting heavily from overseas) and would support the scheme continuing.
 
However, it has to be understood that this can only be a short-term measure and until such time as social workers are paid a decent wage and their work is regarded by their employers; central government and the public at large as being worthy, the situation and recruitment crisis will continue.  This country not only has a social work recruitment crisis but also a social workers retention crisis.  This is sad but true and must be addressed.  It is unfortunate that whenever I am requested to give social work career advice to those considering training that I hear myself saying that, though I have enjoyed my 25 years plus as a social worker I would not advise anyone to take it up as a career due in the main to the pay and conditions and the inability to maintain a direct relationship with clients and service users as one furthers ones career in the service.  Something medicine and law seem to have managed much better. 
 
Sadly I believe the day I advise differently is a long way off.”
 
Paul Marron

“I am an American social worker living and working at a hospital in London. I was so excited to see the article about Hounslow Council and their US social workers.  I think it is a great way to reduce costs and tackle the recruitment crisis, as well as give British people and Americans a chance to learn from each other and compare social work practice.

I have found the system here very different than in the US, particularly working within the NHS. I would love to meet with the other US social workers to compare our experiences!”

Rina Phillips

“Yes it is very cost-effective because you have to pay those people money that is more than what they usually get from their countries.”
 
Vuyo