BASW statement on Government response to child and family social worker workforce consultation

The Department for Education recently sought views on introducing national rules on the engagement of agency social work resource in local authority children’s social care.

BASW England Statement

BASW appreciates the work of our members who ensured we were able to contribute to the government consultation on the child and family social worker workforce in the UK. In acknowledging the pressing challenges faced, we continue to emphasise the critical need for stability in the workforce. 

The increasing demand for social work services, coupled with economic pressures on families due to cuts in universal services, austerity measures, the cost-of-living crisis, and the lingering impacts of the pandemic, has significantly strained the system. This strain is reflected in the alarming statistic of 650,270 referrals for Children in Need in 2022, the highest since 2019. 

We echo the concerns raised by our members, who have witnessed the adverse effects of an unstable workforce firsthand. Reports of children experiencing multiple social workers within a year highlight the impact on building crucial relationships and receiving timely support. 

Moreover, while we acknowledge the proposed changes, we are deeply concerned that the fundamental reasons motivating social workers to opt for agency contracts have not been adequately addressed. Organisational culture, cost-of-living, the need for flexibility, and instances of racism and bullying continue to influence these choices. Implementing restrictions without addressing these core issues risks pushing experienced social workers out of the profession, as highlighted by a recent Community Care poll where 81% of respondents believed that agency staff would be forced to leave the profession.

Any changes should lead to an improvement in the services delivered to children and families, with a focus on retention of staff so that a consistency of care is maintained and keeping experienced practitioners in the job. BASW also wants to see the broader challenges faced by social workers addressed. Flexible working options, especially for those with caring responsibilities, are imperative. The absence of such flexibility within many local authorities leaves a gap that agency contracts currently fill. 

The Government has dropped this element, so maybe we need to just reference that “whilst consistency and affordability is key in pay rates to agency social workers, we welcome the decision not to progress with a requirement that may have led to experienced agency workers being paid less than an equally experienced permanent employee”. 

Furthermore, BASW supports the induction of international recruits into the profession, underlining the need for robust support mechanisms and consistent national resources to ensure a smooth transition and retention of those social workers into social work roles in England.

Lastly, our commitment to anti-racism, anti-oppressive, and anti-discriminatory values and ethics is unwavering. We urge for explicit inclusion of these principles in the National Framework, aligning seamlessly with BASW Codes of Ethics and other relevant standards.

In conclusion, BASW emphasises the need for a comprehensive, inclusive approach. Addressing the outlined concerns is crucial to creating a stable, resilient, and effective child and family social worker workforce in the UK. We look forward to continued collaboration to achieve these shared goals.

_________________________

The Government's full response to the consultation can be found here.