Comment on cost of living crisis and social workers

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

“The cost of living crisis is affecting households across the country, including the children and families we support and sadly different groups of our staff. The findings from this survey reflect the worrying times we are facing and something all local authorities, and indeed employers, will be grappling with. That said, this requires an urgent national response. Local government has operated in a context of significant funding cuts and multiple pay freezes over the past decade which has a knock on impact on our workforce and services. We need government to provide long-term solutions to these problems which will affect all parts of our workforce, including those working in frontline services with children and families.

“More recently, we have seen a direct impact on the number of social workers turning to agency work. It is vital that we have a strong consistent, permanent workforce to support children and families but we face a recruitment and retention crisis. Addressing this growing problem must be a priority for government.”

ENDS

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