Leaders State What They Believe to be Top 3 Challenges For Social Work

Leaders within the sector took part in the survey and expressed what they believed to be the current biggest issues they faced over the next three years. The main concerns included financial pressures along with the recruitment and retention of high quality social workers in England. The survey has been supported by the Department for Education.   

On the subject of budget cuts, the British Association of Social Workers published a statement in 2016, stating that these would only “pile more pressure on social workers and service users” suggesting why financial pressures came out as the top issue for the social work industry with 89%. Recruitment of high quality social workers came second with 57% and the retention of these social workers came third with 51%.

However, it appears that these issues have been recognised by councils. In an attempt to help reduce these threats, councils have increased the spending on children’s social care to £7 billion. Not only is this but the Government are now working harder than ever to empower councils to improve the methods by which social work services are delivered.

The DfE commissioned the survey in an attempt to produce more concise and up to date information regarding the key issues currently facing children’s services and local authorities. Children’s Minister, Robert Goodwill stated that the Government is now investing over “£750 million in bursaries and training programmes” as a way of showing their dedication to enhancing the way in which children’s services are being delivered and in turn, improving the recruitment and retention of quality social workers. 

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