Quality staff to quit councils as they seek careers in independent practice.

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Author: Samuel, Mithran

WORKFORCE

Social work risks becoming a two-tier profession, as experienced staff go independent to escape poor working conditions at councils.

That was the warning last week from Helen Ogilvy, co-chair of the British Association of Social Workers, who said that, to hold on to quality staff, councils would need to create conditions that mirrored independent practice.

She told a conference on recruitment and retention: "Unless there's a good reason to stay where they are, more people will work independently. They will leave a void behind them -- they will not be replaced by people with the same level of competence."

She added: "If independent social work grew too big you would end up with a two-tier workforce."

Ogilvy said independent practice offered more autonomy and flexibility in work and less stress and greater job satisfaction than employment in councils. Moreover, it was untouched by a blame culture.

She said: "I'm yet to meet an independent who would want to move back to their previous working environment. The challenge [for councils] is to help people stay where they are rather than join us lot."

However, she suggested government policy could lead to more demand for independents, regardless of working conditions in councils, with the adult green paper's call for social workers to become navigators rather than gatekeepers of services.

Independents are seen as ideal for this role because they would not have the conflict of interest faced by care managers between meeting users' needs and keeping a lid on council budgets.

Kathryn Kelly, senior consultant for recruitment and careers at the Employers' Organisation, said retention was a bigger issue than recruitment at many councils.

Clear policies were needed on supervision and caseload management as well as a choice of career paths into senior practitioner or management roles.

She warned: "A lot of existing staff are tired with the changes that are going on in social services."

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By Mithran Samuel