Families benefitting from social worker academy

Leah and Brandon Sanderson were supported by the council's early intervention team for their daughter's extra educational needs

A new academy to train children's social workers in-house has led to a significant boost in recruitment in one region.

It has also seen a rise in staff retention and cut the use of expensive agency workers by half.

Oldham council set the academy up two years ago to address a shortage of social workers that was undermining the support it could provide to families - and parents are already benefitting from the move.

It comes as case referrals for support were up 33.7% last year in comparison to 2022.

Parents Leah and Brandon Sanderson were supported by the council's early intervention team after they realised their young daughter had extra educational needs.

Leah said: “Parenting is hard anyway, there's no book for it. When you throw other things into the mix like additional needs, that's when it really becomes complicated.

"We’re not not worried any more. The children are doing great."

Husband Brandon praised their social worker, Amanda, adding: "You don't think somebody is going to have an impact like that on you, but they did.”

Recently qualified social worker Tracy Hynes

The Local Government Association estimates 13,000 more social workers will be needed nationally over ten years to meet the increasing demand for help.

Following the launch of Oldham council's academy, job applications are up 62% and shortlistings are up 120%.

In recent months, 25 new social workers were recruited into permanent roles with reliance on agency workforce down to 26% from 49% for the same period last year.

'Nothing more rewarding'

Tracy Hynes recently began working for the council's early intervention team after qualifying through an apprenticeship run by the academy.

She said it provided continuing support for staff, adding: “It's not just about the work that we do with families but about ourselves as well, about looking after us and making sure that we're getting what we need, whether that's in our own wellbeing or whether that's in the training and learning and development that we need as well.”

The council's principal social worker, Stephanie Dixon, oversees the academy.

She admitted social work could be stressful but rewarding.

She said: "It's a difficult job. You do take on a lot hearing other people's traumas and you’re supporting people day in, day out.

"But what comes with that is the reward of when you support someone and you see children develop, do well, be able to stay with families, then I don't think there is anything more rewarding."

Oldham council leader Arooj Shah, who is also chair of the Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board, said: “It is vital we invest in early help and support so that fewer children and families see their needs escalating and requiring support from children’s social care.

"Without this investment, there will need to be thousands of additional children and family social workers hired over the next decade."

She said she was calling on the government to work with the council on a workforce strategy that would include a recruitment drive, training programmes and bursaries.

A Greater Manchester Combined Authority spokesperson said: “We recognise the important role that agency workers play and the current workforce conditions that have seen some local authorities increasingly reliant on them.

"However, we need to strike the right balance between our permanent and agency staff if we are to provide the stable and high-quality support that our children and families deserve.

"Through initiatives like the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (MBacc) we can create pathways to help young people to enter the profession.”