Welsh recruitment task force agreed

The Welsh Local Government Association is to set up a task force
to tackle the country’s social services recruitment crisis.

The move follows recommendations in a report from Tony
Garthwaite, chair of the Association of Directors of Social
Services Wales workforce committee, that local authorities needed
to rethink their recruiting methods.

Beverlea Frowen, the WLGA’s head of policy for health, social care
and well-being, said that the task force, which will report back in
January 2006, will examine recruitment strategies in England and
Scotland.

It will also try to devise strategies to retain social workers
who might otherwise move to England.