Retention, not recruitment: that's the problem

Moira Gibb, who chaired the Social Work Task Force a few years ago, has hit the nail on the head in giving evidence to the House of Commons Education Committee regarding the Government’s plans for the accreditation of children’s social workers. She is quoted in Community Care as telling the Committee that the problem is that there are plenty of people who join the profession but they don’t stay; and that what is needed is people who have long experience, not people who practice for a couple of years and then move on.

  

She is absolutely right to recognize that it is difficulties retaining experienced children’s social workers that is the problem. And I believe that retaining people requires careful thought about how jobs are designed and about how staff are developed and supported; not just quick apparent fixes with silly natty titles.

I've been banging on about the importance of retention since 2009, without much success. I hope Moira Gibb, will have better luck in getting people to listen to her. Who knows?