Comment: BASW’s 80-20 campaign

Rachael Wardell, Chair of the ADCS Workforce Development Policy Committee, said:

“Social workers do a very difficult job under intense scrutiny and increasing pressure. It is in the best interest of the children and families we work with that social workers are well supported via regular, reflective supervision and training and that they aren’t overly burdened with unnecessary administration – a key message coming from BASW’s 80-20 campaign. That said, there are certain tasks that are important for social workers to maintain, such as record keeping which is vital to help children understand their history. Directors of children’s services remain committed to getting the basics right and creating the conditions where good social work can flourish. Local authorities are doing a range of things to protect direct work with children and families, including ensuring social workers have manageable caseloads as well as improving IT and administrative processes. However, in a climate of reducing budgets, increasing need and a shortage of social workers nationally this is getting much harder to achieve. ADCS would welcome a national recruitment and retention campaign which emphasises the positive work that social workers do; better retention, in particular would help to give greater continuity to the children and families we work with.”

ENDS

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