Posters launched to boost social workers' morale

As part of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) “Respect and Protect” campaign, councils all over the country are being offered free posters aimed at boosting the image of the social work profession, and encouraging the respect social workers deserve.

A survey carried out on behalf of the LGA has found 93 per cent of councillors in charge of children’s services believe the reporting of the Baby Peter case had a negative impact on the way people regard social workers. While 88 per cent said they believed there had been a negative impact on staff morale.

Other figures show more than half of councils (60%) feel it has got more difficult to recruit children’s social workers since October 2008 and around a third (34%) say retention has worsened over the same time, with frontline staff the most affected.

The LGA fears falling morale and a poor public image will worsen problems with recruitment and retention, weakening the safety net which protects thousands of children on a daily basis. Social workers’ activities include providing support to families in difficulty, removing children from dangerous situations and arranging adoption and fostering.

Cllr Margaret Eaton, Chairman of the LGA, said:
 “Social workers should be proud of what they do. Councillors want social workers to be able to hold their heads high when they tell people about their jobs, and it is partly down to councils to show they are proud of them as employees.

“Councils all over the country know how vital the role of social workers is, and displaying these images in local areas will hopefully help develop a better understanding of what a difference they make to thousands of youngsters.”