Social work recruits from abroad

Highland Council is recruiting social workers from Canada and Australia to fill a widening skills gap.
The council said it had to employ more staff because of increasing demands, especially in the children and family care services.

Social work director Harriet Dempster said a career in the Highlands would be attractive to potential employees from other countries.

She said there had also been interest in vacancies from South Africa.

Ms Dempster said: “The pool of social workers available in Scotland will no longer meet the demand.

“So across different parts of Scotland people are looking creatively at what we can do about this and it is interesting we have had interest from social workers from abroad, from Canada and from Australia, to come to work in the Highlands.

“That may well maybe an opportunity for us.”

She added: “One of our recent appointments worked in South Africa for example and they bring a great richness with them.

“There are issues about them getting used to our legislation, but if they bring in social work skills and experience then these people are very, very welcome.

“One of our young recruits, who came from Australia for a temporary post, just came because he loved the mountains.

“The quality of life here is very good and I think that is the attraction.”

Following the publication of the report into the murder of five-year-old Inverness girl Danielle Reid, Highland Council chief executive Arthur McCourt revealed the authority had increased its number of social workers from 100 to 172.

He said the staff deal with children and families.