Best Social Work Employer
Central Bedfordshire Council - Childrens Services
AWARD(S): Best Social Work Employer
Three years ago, Central Bedfordshire council’s children’s services department, which employs just under 120 social workers, was in a tricky situation. Around half of children’s social workers at the authority, which faces natural recruitment and retention challenges because of its proximity to London, were agency staff, with 54% of posts sitting vacant.
Since then, Central Bedfordshire has made sweeping changes. Teams have been restructured into smaller units with non-caseholding managers, helping to improve practice standards and bring average caseloads down from around 30 to 16.
An innovative academy has also been set up, combining children’s social work learning and development opportunities with those available to early years professionals. This has enabled social workers to access bespoke child-focused training in order to meet their needs.
Underpinning these headline changes has been a focus on supervision, communication and support – including external counselling, which some social workers have said has helped them stay in their jobs. The vacancy rate among children’s social workers is now down to 18%, with 91% saying that they receive regular supervision and 97% understanding their team’s aims and objectives. The judges noted that the improvements at Central Bedfordshire indicated that a “whole-systems approach” was in place.
WHAT THEY SAID:
A clear commitment for the development of social workers. I liked the joined-up thinking with early years as there’s clearly a lot of learning overlap. A good range of endorsements.
Andrew Ellery, AE Social Care and Education Ltd
Central Bedfordshire understand their staff and how to make them feel confident, well developed and well supported. There is clearly confidence in the leadership and confidence in the learning environment.
Anthony Douglas, Chief Executive, Cafcass
Central Bedfordshire is a forward-thinking employer focused on recruiting, retaining and above all supporting Social Workers. As a result, CBC Social Workers are empowered to make a difference through research informed practice.”
Amanda Thorpe, Head of Social Work, University of Bedfordshire
By adopting a joint strategic approach with senior operational management, HR, and The Academy along with team managers buy in, we have achieved significant progress. A key example being our quality of social work practice has consistently improved. Children tell us that they are happier with the service now they have more consistent support with fewer changes of worker.
Sue Harrison, Director of Children’s Services, Central Bedfordshire Council
THE FINALISTS
SILVER AWARD WINNER
East Sussex County Council, Childrens Services
Essex County Council
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council