Structure and culture in children’s social care – Identifying options for changing the model of social work: Evidence Scope (2015)

Low staff retention and the inability to recruit experienced staff can lead to a lack of expertise within the organisation to support any less experienced staff and newly qualified social workers being given tasks that they are not equipped to do.

Recognition of these risks has led a number of local authorities to explore incentives to attract experienced staff, beyond ‘golden hello’ payments, including the offer of help with housing and support finding their children a school and PR campaigns highlighting the benefits of working in the area (e.g Coventry). A number of regional groups, including London authorities, are now working together to negotiate with social work agencies to reduce competition for staff and to improve information sharing about the quality of agency staff.

This evidence scope sets out evidence for organisational changes to counteract some of the 'push' factors, and to help social workers to focus on core elements of working with families:

• critical analysis in assessment
• building relationship-based practice with children and families
• confidence in working with families, including being able to access expertise and support when
  required.

The requirement to have these skills is now embodied within the Knowledge and Skills Statement for child and family social work. Local authorities will need to shape their organisations to allow social workers to develop and make use of these skills.