15/03/04 - Social Services 'grow their own' Social Workers

Cumbria Social Services is offering its unqualified family workers and social care workers the chance to train for a Diploma in Social Work (DipSW) enabling members of the current workforce to develop their careers and alleviating the current national socials worker recruitment problems.

Social Services has been developing this initiative for three years in an attempt to overcome social worker recruitment problems by training committed current social care staff to work as qualified social workers in the communities they already serve and know.  Joanne Yetts, a Family Worker for the Child and Families Team in Whitehaven is taking part in the programme.  She says,

“I have worked for Social Services for nearly 4 years.  My job takes me into the local community supporting families in need.  The new secondment programme has enabled me to further develop my career in social work in Cumbria and not only ensures that the Council gains a qualified social worker but a qualified social worker who already knows the local support networks, people and communities.  The programme is rolled out in a number of ways.  Some students study through the Open University and continue to work for the Council during their period of study.  Others choose to be seconded to a part time course at the University of Central Lancashire.  I chose to follow the part time course at University of Central Lancashire. This will take three years to complete. This is a very professional and well-supported course, which has led me to some personal and professional challenges.  It’s not easy juggling work, study taking care of my family and having a life!  But I am much more aware of current social care issues and have a great support network.  That has enabled me to develop professionally, becoming an even greater asset to the team and Cumbria Social Services.”

 County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet spokesman for Care and Social Services says,

“Cumbria County Council is committed to the well being and protection of vulnerable people and a strong, committed and robust workforce is key to achieving that goal.  The recruitment and retention of social workers is a national problem.  The Local Government Association has recognised that this is partly due to the fact that not enough people are currently training as social workers, leaving a gap between supply and demand.  We have been working on this scheme to `grow our own’ social workers for about three years now and are starting to see the benefits with our first newly qualified social workers moving into post.  The Council committed £800,000 to employ more social workers last year but had problems recruiting the staff we needed.  This initiative is part of our drive to better staff the department and to address the developmental needs of current social care workers.  The scheme runs parallel to a number of other innovative recruitment initiatives, including an attempt to recruit from Australia.”

Two students are currently studying at the University of Central Lancashire and four students are in the final stages of training through the Open University.  Eleven new students have been registered this year for the Dipsw and there are plans to second a further eight students next year to complete a new Open University Social Work degree programme.  Seconded students study at a professional level whilst continuing to work for Social services.  The new knowledge and skill learned can then immediately be applied to their work.

The Diploma in Social Work is completed through a combination of attendance at university, taught workshops, written assignments, exams, research, reading and two practical placements.  Qualified practice teachers assess students in their social work practice when they are on placement.