How to improve the profession
A child social worker has been described as one of the toughest jobs in Britain. However only a third of newly qualified children’s social workers believe that degree courses prepared them fully or largely for their jobs. As well as concerns about training there are problems around recruitment and retention. One in ten child social worker posts are vacant at any one time – and of those councils who are experiencing difficulties, 89 percent say they have trouble recruiting experienced child social workers. Lord Laming has called for improvements in those areas. Students Lisa Cassius and Claudia Megele talk to Reporter Felicity Finch about their experiences. To discuss the issues around training and recruitment Jane is joined by Kim Bromley-Derry, Director of Children’s Services at Newham Council in London, Sue White, Professor of Social Work at the University of Lancaster and Joanna Nicolas, an independent social worker. |
