Social work and Covid: tell us how the pandemic has influenced what you look for in a job

Community Care has launched its annual survey of social work jobseeking, which includes a special focus on the impact of the coronavirus

Close up interviewer interview candidate apply for job at meeting room in office
Photo: weedezign/Adobe Stock

Social work has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, as practitioners have put their own health on the line to ensure the delivery of vital support to people in need, while adapting to substantially altered working conditions.

But what has this meant for what social workers look for in a job? Community Care’s annual jobseekers’ survey, launched this week, is examining the impact, while also gathering data on how practitioners’ jobseeking preferences have changed over time.

Last year’s survey – answered by 1,353 social workers – found that more practitioners were actively seeking new roles than in 2018 with pay an increasing factor in tempting people to move.

The research covers issues including the benefits social workers look for in a new role, how you judge the reputation of a new employer and what you like or dislike in recruitment processes and job advertisements.

Answering the survey will take no more than 10-15 minutes and all respondents who provide contact details will be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Amazon voucher. The results, which we will share on the website, will provide valuable insights for employers in determining how they recruit, support and retain practitioners, so please do take the time to fill it in.

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2 Responses to Social work and Covid: tell us how the pandemic has influenced what you look for in a job

  1. Marcia Panton-Alexander August 20, 2020 at 1:13 pm #

    The practice of social work change in that we have less physical interaction with our clients. Social work takes in a lot of different interventions, intervention such as counseling which can be done over the phone at this time. If a child or an old person is in need we have to help it is our job.

  2. Tony August 20, 2020 at 9:15 pm #

    Can anyone offer any advice on how to engage with clients that can’t cope with contact via phone/video calls or in writing.

    The type of client group I am alluding to are those with complex needs such as a combination of cognitive impairment and visual impairment who really relied on face to face contact for care and support planning.

    If a routine review is due, should we ask for it to be done via telephone (against clients wishes and needs), postpone it or go ahead and meet face to face with PPE?