Thurs, 2 Feb 2012

The chairman of the trade association for recruiters placing professional social workers says that his organisation’s merger with the Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCo) comes at a critical time for his sector.

Speaking to Recruiter at the launch of the Association of Social Work Employment Businesses’ (ASWEB) integration with APSCo, Ben Arnold (left) said that the opportunity to benefit from APSCo’s corporate governance, infrastructure and lobbying influence had prompted ASWEB’s quest to merge. In turn, Arnold said, “We bring passion and expertise” to APSCo.

The most critical issue facing ASWEB members right now, Arnold said, is “recognition that quality care and service requires safeguarding standards to protect vulnerable adults and children. And that comes at a significant cost, a real cost”.

Arnold is managing director of Amicus Recruit. He will be co-opted for a seat on APSCo’s Executive Committee, APSCo chief executive Ann Swain told Recruiter.

Swain said she was delighted to have ASWEB now integrated into APSCo. “Everyone feels great about it. We will put a lot into them, and make sure we do a great job with it [the merger],” she said.

ASWEB members are Amicus Recruit, Reed Social Care, Social Work 2000, Backstop, Sugarman Group, Action First, DASH, Caritas Recruitment, Remedy Recruitment, Fawkes & Reece, DLK Social Care, Medicare First and Manpower.