New Campaign To Encourage Children’s Social Workers Back Into The Profession

West Sussex County Council has launched a recruitment campaign to attract children’s social workers back to the profession as the authority continues its drive to find local solutions to the national problem of staff shortages.

The campaign, in conjunction with Surrey County Council, will target qualified children’s social workers, who have been out of practice – whether due to a career break or because they have had a career change and who may be considering a return to social work.

The Children’s Workforce Development Council (CWDC) and the Council are sponsoring the course as the authority aims to reduce its social worker vacancies.

As part of the scheme, the council will provide a free return-to-work course, which will run between January and March. There will be 15 days of teaching and five days of on-the-job shadowing of a social worker.

Everyone who successfully completes the course will be guaranteed an interview with the council for a post in a frontline Children’s Services team.

CWDC will pay people on the course £60 a day and will help with childcare and travel costs. Anyone interested in joining the course can contact the CWDC on 0300 123 1220.

Pat Arculus, West Sussex County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, said: “Social workers do a great job, often in extremely difficult circumstances, but it is a hugely rewarding profession.

“This campaign is part of our continuing drive to reduce our vacancies. It represents a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to resume their career after a break and is just one of the many ways the council is finding local solutions to a national problem.

“By attracting, recruiting and retaining the brightest and most committed people we will have an excellent opportunity to give vulnerable children in our county the best possible start in life.”

Meanwhile the County Council is continuing its ‘No Limits’ campaign to encourage people to consider a career in social work.

A dedicated website – [...] – includes details of vacancies, video profiles of social workers talking about the role, and what it’s like to work for the County Council.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 16:50 and is filed under News Bulletins. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.