UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector union, representing more than 40,000 social workers, today (30 November), called for the social work task force report to deliver a seismic shift to relieve the pressures on social workers.
The union warned that unless the recommendations in the report were fully funded, social workers will continue to struggle with excessive caseloads and the history of blame, crisis and plummeting morale will repeat itself.
Helga Pile, UNISON National Officer for Social Workers, said:
“We need a seismic shift in the way social work is delivered. It is simply unacceptable to have social workers struggling with caseloads of thirty or
more children. In England the average vacancy rate now stands at 14%, but it’s a massive 39% in some parts of the country.
“We need a higher ratio of qualified, trained staff and proper supervision put in place. Social workers want to be able to spend more time with families in need and less time at their desks.
“The changes recommended by the taskforce will only work if they are Properly funded. This cannot be just another report that two years down the line has still not been implemented because of lack of cash. Many councils are
talking about swingeing spending cuts at the moment. We must not throw away this chance to get it right.
“The plan to set up a royal college must not become a distraction. Change needs to be delivered on the ground. Social workers need to have a say and a voice in the workplace but they have been gagged. The public have a right to hear what it is like on the front-line.”
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