Children's Service Recruitment and Retention Programme

Community Care specialises in social care research, recruitment, retention, and practice and these solutions have proven successful in helping councils attract permanent social work staff as well as understand why they stay and/or leave thereby reducing agency costs and stabilising the workforce.

There is a national shortage of Social Workers and the Ofsted rating and delay in Pay and Reward means that BCP is particularly struggling to attract and retain skilled Social Workers. BCP is a coastal town and tourist destination which means that the cost of accommodation increases during school holidays, particularly during the summer months. These increases have led to some agency and permanent staff deciding not to take up the offer of work due to the cost of accommodation, both temporary and more long term.

Reviews of caseloads and staffing structure are taking place to ensure levels of work are appropriate across the service and to support the health and wellbeing of staff.