Child and Family Social Worker Workforce

Closed 11 May 2023

Opened 2 Feb 2023

Contact

01325 340479

swagency.consultation@education.gov.uk

Feedback updated 24 Sep 2024

We asked

This consultation invited views on a proposed set of national rules on local authority engagement of agency child and family social workers.

You said

A total of 1,243 responses were received, with 1,230 completing the consultation online. Over two-thirds of respondents agreed in principle with the proposed national rules (64%), whilst a third disagreed (33%).

We did

The government’s response to the consultation, and full independent analysis of consultation responses, are available online at: Child and family social worker workforce - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Following consultation, we developed new statutory guidance for local authorities on the use of agency child and family social workers, with some changes to the proposed rules to respond to consultation feedback. We consulted on the draft statutory guidance from 31 January to 28 February 2024.

Overview

We’d like your views on proposals to introduce national rules on the engagement of agency social work resource in local authority children’s social care.

Why your views matter

The independent review of children’s social care, published in May 2022, described the case to reduce overreliance on  agency social work resource in order to provide more stable relationships for children and families and reduce costs.

This consultation invites views on a set of national rules on the engagement of agency social work resource covering:

  • price caps on what local authorities may pay for an agency worker
  • post-qualified experience needed for an agency assignment
  • use of project teams
  • references, notice periods, and movement between agency and substantive roles
  • collection and sharing of pay and agency data
  • adherence of procurement routes with the national rules

What happens next

The results of the consultation and the department's response will be published on GOV.UK in September 2023

Audiences

  • Employers
  • Unions and representative organisations
  • Government bodies and departments
  • Social workers
  • Team managers
  • Service managers
  • Principle social workers
  • Directors of children's services

Interests

  • Social workers' standards