Currently, Local authorities are facing considerable recruitment and retention challenges in Social Work teams across the country, leading to an increasing reliance upon agency staff to help them meet the growing levels of need across communities.
The use of agency staff creates an inevitable instability and high costs for already struggling children’s services. Workers lack the ability to consolidate learning and build expertise with short-term contracts and team morale is at an all-time low. Permanent, and experienced staff facing high workloads become disheartened when they find themselves working alongside newly qualified Social Workers, who are being paid almost double their hourly rate and in the midst of a cost of living crisis, the temptation to earn more money and have the flexibility to work where and when they want has become a growing trend, leaving many Social Work teams struggling.
The Agency Cap
The Department for Education proposes to introduce national rules to reduce costs and the use of agency workers by capping the fees to the equivalent earned by permanent staff. In a recent survey by Community Care of 759 voters, considering the most likely outcome of the proposed cap, 81% of voters said that they would leave Social Work in children’s services and only 13% would take a permanent position. This highlights the limited impact that proposals will have in terms of improving recruitment and retention of Social Workers.
Social Work agencies are believed to be ‘profiteering’ by exploiting vulnerable services in the wake of covid. Hourly rates of up to £60 per hour are unprecedented, and have only exacerbated the situation further.
ACCA are not an agency
Advanced CCA have been working closely with Local Authorities across the country and offering an invaluable and cost effective alternative to the use of agency staff. Whilst our team of Independent Social Workers enjoy the same level of flexibility, competitive rates of pay and control over their work/life balance, they are highly skilled, experienced and committed Social Workers, who are passionate about the role and driven to ensure that the work they do, makes a difference to the children and families that we work with.
For Local Authorities, we offer the opportunity of high quality assessments, undertaken by experienced and skilled Independent Social Workers and reduced overheads. There is no requirement for management oversight and our practitioners have the benefit of support and training to ensure they are able to maintain and enhance their skills. Reports are quality assured and contribute to effective care planning and minimal delay within Care Proceedings.
Independence you can trust
We have seen a surge in Independent Social Worker applications over the past few months and our focus on support, rather than exploitation is a representation of the commitment that we share with Local Authorities to provide services that meet the needs of children and families in the communities that need them the most. We have expanded the range of assessments and services that we offer, to meet increases in demand, whilst ensuring that we can continue to offer the same level of experience and skill.
When we are instructed by Local Authorities, we essentially act as agents for them, liaising closely with Social Work teams and providing a joined up working structure. We aspire to continue to build our relationship with Local Authorities to ensure that the services we provide are to their exact specification, cost effective and of the highest standard.
For more information about joining our panel of Independent Social Workers click here.
If you are a Local Authority or Solicitor looking to make a referral click here.
