A couple of years ago everyone used to talk about a social worker shortage and recruitment crisis...Is that still the case? I get the feeling the situation has changed

I'd be interested to hear about that too. We used to carry articles every week erferring to the social work recruitment crisis but it doesn't seem to be the case now. So has the crisis gone away or is it jist that people accept it as given? I haven't heard much about the DH recruitment advertising campaign either...

I don't know but I get the impression that there is still a large shortage in terms of child protection social workers but not in other areas.

It wouldn't suprise me if that was the case - I can see why people would avoid child protection if possible - the stress, the burn out, the pressure, the heavy case loads, the difficult decisions, the damned if you do - damned if you don't attitude, the negative portrayal in the press - funny that people don't want to be faced with this!

I work in child protection and we have a high vacancy rate and I cannot see it getting any better. As soon as we are able to recruit, people leave, so the gaps are never filled.

Coupled with the high caseload, we recently had a new computer system where we are supposed to input everything ourselves. However, you are not able to access this at home on the laptop or by any other means. I regularly work 15+ hours a week, without using this computer system, and if I were to do all reports and case recording on this, as I am supposed to do, I reckon I would be working an additional 20+ on top of the overtime I already do.  I consider that social work is about seeing clients and developing relationships with the people I work with, not sitting in front of a computer. That's the end of that rant!

Hi kymb21

It doesn't sound like a rant to me! I think it's quite natural to be annoyed if you entered a job to work with people but spend so much time on paperwork or admin. 

I agree -I don't suppose many of today's social workers studeied thinking "Wow I can't wait to get stuck into all the administration when I qualify" - rant justified!

as left wing politics dies a slow and ugly death in this country it will be mirrored by a shortage of s/w's.it is happening now.

Hi kymb21

 I totally agree with you I work in a duty team and we have an extremely high vacancy rate in our team and across Children's Services - even agency staff don't stay very long!!  recruitment and retention are major issues for my employer

Obviously, there are lies, damn lies and statistics but, in councils at least, vacancy and turnover rates are actually coming down, the most recent figures show. Council field social workers had a vacancy rate of 9.4% in 2006 and a turnover rate of 7.8% (down from 10.4% and 10% respectively in 2004). But there are massive variations between areas and regions: The vacancy rate varied from 5% in the North East to 14% in London.

Have some employers (despite budget constraints) cracked the art of recruiting and retaining social workers while others have not or is it more complex than that?

Speaking from the North-East point of view the figures are misleading. All offices in newcastle are understaffed. The LA have a roling programme which allos them to keep looking for workers whilst they fail to keep the people already in post. Obvioulsy there will be those who are promoted or move on which is natural but it is concerning that the caesloads get larger but the staffing gets less. They use agency workers who cannot hold certain cases. They use Assessing Officers to hold cases which they shouldnt have on top of all the contacts and Looked After Children they have. Its not just about they money or they fact that some Authroities give incentives (which would be nice) but its about the respect and support they need to do their job. The recognision that they work above and beyond. Its getting your flexi and your leiu and being able to attend training. I keep hearing the upper management saying we have a good retention policy but when we ask what it is they dont answer.

Lins, I completely agree. I work in the East and the situation is exactly the same. For so long social workers have been saying that it is not about money (although more would be nice!) but the lack of respect and recognition of what we do by senior management.  We are currently logging the amount of overtime that we all do (including not taking lunch breaks) and it is amazing how much extra the department are getting from their workers. We are hoping to take this to senior management, but I suspect that no notice will be taken- although they might if we all decide to take the time off in lieu owed!!  Also I am not sure if the figures take into account the number of unqualified workers who do social work, who have to hold complex cases but don't get the pay or recognition for this?

Retention concentrates mostly on the newly qualified not the old hand revolutionaries like myself who frankly LA's are scared of. Who will I talk to next? lol !!

PQ means nothing after 25 years. Experience, imagination and sheer honesty seem to be in short supply. Hypocrisy seems to rule the day in so many places which is so sad when those of us who plod away trying to do what we trully believe in can do nothing but be poorly paid registered social workers shouting out behind a glass screen, hoping that some sensible person will pass by and come and listen to us.

But even registration is a laugh as my certificate says at the bottom " This certificate is not proof of registration"........what's the point of it then!!