Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 46
46
Accepted in Part
Serious recruitment and retention problems in children's social care workforce require wholesale review.
Recommendation
There is a serious problem with recruitment and retention in the social care workforce. High turnover and overstretched staff are exacerbating the instability experienced by children in care and increase the risk of 89 safeguarding concerns being overlooked. The Department for Education has begun to address this with the planned induction programme and regulations on the use of agency workers, but a wholesale review of the workforce is needed. (Conclusion, Paragraph 112)
Government Response Summary
The government recognises the importance of the social care workforce and outlines several ongoing initiatives to improve recruitment, retention, and training, including gathering evidence and shaping future workforce support through the Families First Partnership Programme, and reviewing qualifications for residential care, but does not commit to a single wholesale review of the entire workforce.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
We recognise the critical importance of the children’s social care workforce and are committed to improving recruitment, retention and training across the sector. While pay and staffing remain the responsibility of local authorities and providers, we are supporting the sector through provision of advice and practical tools, in addition to national programmes. Through the Families First Partnership Programme, we are working with local and national partners to gather evidence and shape future workforce support, including enhanced training pathways, professional development, and recruitment strategies. We train an average of 850 new social workers each year through our national graduate training programmes: Approach Social Work and Step Up to Social Work. We have recently consulted on new post-qualifying standards (PQS) and induction support to strengthen early-career development, recognising the importance of this stage of a social workers career and providing opportunities to focus on important areas of practice, including working with disabled children and their families. For residential care, we are reviewing qualifications and training access to ensure staff are equipped to meet children’s needs and keep them safe.