International Recruitment and Induction Standards launched at BASW UK Conference

The recruitment and induction standards are the first of their kind to have been co-produced with social workers with lived experience of migration to the UK for the profession.

The standards have been published at a time when recruitment of overseas qualified social workers is increasing. This is happening, at least in part, in response to the unprecedented demand for social workers in the UK as a result of intensifying recruitment and retention challenges and pressures on services.

However, survey findings and the sharing of personal stories indicate that the experiences of overseas practitioners coming to the UK have often been challenging, with poor induction and management support.

The new standards therefore aim to ensure that international social workers have the support, guidance and training they need to provide the best possible support to people they work with.

The SIG recognise that the transition to working in the UK can be testing for employers and employees alike, resulting in poor retention of those qualified overseas. The SIG have therefore co-produced these standards to provide guidance on the challenges that can arise and the ways in which employers and recruiters can provide appropriate and relevant support.

BASW UK Chair, Julia Ross commented:

“International social workers bring a wealth of expertise and experience which can be a huge asset to any social work employer.

“The standards offered by the SIG aim to ensure international social workers receive the support and training they need to be successful as social workers in the UK and to make a positive difference to their employers and the lives of the people with whom they will work.

“BASW is delighted to support this publication alongside people with lived experience of migration to the UK, and we look forward to seeing this framework help both social workers, employers and indeed other professionals for many years to come.”

Editor’s notes:

• The International Recruitment and Induction Standards can be viewed here.
• Social work across the UK faces serious recruitment and retention challenges.  The Department for Education reports that the vacancy rate in the children’s social work workforce has increased to 20% in England, or one in every five social work positions, up from 17% in 2021. In December 2022, BBC Wales reported that three Welsh local authorities (out of 22) had social worker vacancy rates of more than 30%.
• A growing number of social workers in the UK originally qualified and/or have practised outside the UK. Studies estimate that over 10% of England’s social workers trained abroad.
• In August 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) released an updated Code of Practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel which explicitly mentioned social workers as one of the professions being recruited, as was also recognised in the DHSC’s guidance on Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad released in December 2022. The devolved governments have similar codes of practice on overseas recruitment.