Staff must be fully involved in reform

Social workers will “vote with their feet” and leave their jobs if
they are not fully consulted about reforms to the children’s
workforce, the British Association of Social Workers has
warned.

It said officials would be “wise to learn from past errors” and
that leadership, management and supervision were crucial to the
success of the children’s workforce strategy.

In its response to a consultation on the strategy that closed last
week, the association also warned that too many social workers were
employed in complex children and families work too quickly.

Social services directors said the strategy should focus more on
safeguarding children and on working with parents and
families.

The response from the Association of Directors of Social Services
said the government should add safety to the list of four major
challenges set out in the workforce strategy.

The Fostering Network said the workforce must be “child-centred and
child-focused at all times”.