Longer notice periods and contracts for locum social workers could reduce risk says recruiter

Notice periods longer than one week for locum social workers would improve consistency of service, said a recruiter, responding to concerns raised that dependence on temporary staff was jeopardising standards.
Fri, 14 Nov 2014 | By Nicola Sullivan

Notice periods longer than one week for locum social workers would improve consistency of service, said a recruiter, responding to concerns raised that dependence on temporary staff was jeopardising standards. 

Bridget Robb from The British Association of Social Workers told the BBC that a reliance on temporary staff was at worst putting vulnerable children’s lives at risk. 

Debbie Smith, chief executive of social care recruiter Caritas Recruitment, told Recruiter that short-term contracts and limited notice periods would reduce risk and increase the value of temp workers. She said: “The ability of locum workers to walk away from a contract with limited notice can be very disruptive and then pose risks. That’s really what [the concerns] were focused on.” 

Smith said that the standard notice period for locums was just one week. If more local authorities committed to longer contracts and one-month notice periods for both the locum and the employer the workforce would be more stable.   

In today’s BBC Breakfast News report, Ann Lucas from Coventry City Council said: “We have put in about 70 agency workers at the moment. They are hugely expensive and for as good as they are, and they are good, they are not committed to Coventry and Coventry children in the way that our permanent social workers are.” 

Smith told Recruiter a severe skills shortage in the sector meant there were not enough people to take on permanent positions: “Of course it is much better for every service user, especially children, to have a consistency in social work support. I don’t think anybody is disputing that. 

“With the increase, and it is a dramatic and consistent increase, in demand within social services, specifically with increased child protection referrals coming through for each local authority, there just aren’t enough qualified social worker candidates available to take on these positions across the UK.” 

In a statement, Nick Bowles, head of stakeholder engagement at recruitment trade body APSCo, added: “Of course the real problem is that there just aren’t enough permanent social workers around and so flexible workers fill an absolutely crucial skills gap.” 

In a statement, trade body the Recruitment & Employment Confederation’s (REC’s) CEO Kevin Green said: “Agency social workers provide an important resource to protect and support the UK’s most vulnerable children and adults. They often have to pick up very difficult and complex cases very quickly. They are all professionally trained and agencies do a huge amount of vetting, which starts with ensuring social workers are registered with the Health and Social Care Professionals Council.” 

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