Paul Marinko 27 February 2023

Children's social worker numbers drop for first time since 2017

Childrens social worker numbers drop for first time since 2017 image
Image: Studio Romantic/Shutterstock.com.

The Government has been urged to act after official figures showed the number of children’s social workers has fallen for the first time since 2017.

New Department for Education data revealed there were 31,600 children and family social workers in England at the end of September 2022 - down 2.7% from the previous year and the first reduction in numbers since the Government started collecting the information in 2017.

In addition, 5,400 children’s social workers left the profession in the year and vacancy numbers were up by more than one-fifth at 7,900.

Both were also record highs.

Association of Directors of Children’s Services president, Steve Crocker, said: ‘The Government must take swift and meaningful action.’ 

The Local Government Association said its own research showed four out of five councils were having difficulty recruiting children’s social workers and 72% were struggling to retain them.

This meant local authorities were increasingly having to turn to costly agency staff to plug gaps.

A Department for Education spokesperson said it was ‘taking forward ambitious plans’ to recruit up to 500 new child and family social worker apprentices and introduce more support and professional development for a social worker’s first five years.

They added: ‘To reduce the use of agency social workers, we are consulting on proposals including capping the amount a local authority can pay for them and introducing a minimum level of experience required.’

This article was originally published by The MJ (£)

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director – Community Safety and Cohesion

Redbridge London Borough Council
£Competitive
Are you ready to lead on safety, inclusion and community wellbeing in one of London’s most diverse and ambitious boroughs? Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Redbridge London Borough Council

Executive Director – Place, Communities and Enterprise

Redbridge London Borough Council
£Competitive
Are you ready to lead one of London’s most ambitious place-shaping agendas? Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Redbridge London Borough Council

Director – Regeneration and Growth

Redbridge London Borough Council
£Competitive
Are you ready to lead inclusive growth and regeneration in one of London’s most ambitious and diverse boroughs? Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Redbridge London Borough Council

Cabinet Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £29699.0000 per annum
Cabinet AssistantFixed Term, Full Time£29,699 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Director – Housing Services

Redbridge London Borough Council
£Competitive
Are you ready to lead transformative housing services in one of London’s most ambitious and diverse boroughs? Redbridge, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Redbridge London Borough Council
Linkedin Banner