Report reveals difficulty in recruiting social workers (From Western Telegraph)

Report reveals difficulty in recruiting social workers

1:40pm Saturday 27th October 2012 in News

Difficulties in recruiting and retaining children’s social workers in Pembrokeshire are jeopardising standards of practice, a report has said.

In a report to the safeguarding overview and scrutiny committee, on October 15th, cabinet member for safeguarding and children’s services Councillor Sue Perkins said that problems around recruitment and retention of social workers and first line managers are “leading to pressures in maintaining adequate standards of practice”.

And if left unchecked, this matter could result in “risk to children not being managed effectively”.

Head of childcare commissioning Nicola Francis said: “We still have a significant, and increasing, problem in terms of availability of permanent social workers to the front line of children’s services.”

She added that the position was “likely to slightly worsen”

because many staff members were approaching retirement.

And although agency staff have been employed on a temporary basis, this has led to additional costs, she said.

Newly-appointed director of education and children’s services Jake Morgan said: “This is a situation which has to be addressed as an absolute priority.

“I am confident, on the basis that other authorities have been in this position, that we will be able to turn it around.”

He added: “We are not in crisis at the moment, but if we don’t find a solution soon, we will find ourselves in difficulty.”