Cuts to support roles see social workers’ paperwork escalate

Social workers’ admin tasks have rocketed due to cuts in administrative support and frontline roles, according to latest research.

The survey of 500 social workers found that 55 per cent had seen cuts in administrative and support posts.

Nine out of 10 of those who had seen such cuts said this has led to an increase in paperwork, which means they spend less time with vulnerable people.

Social workers’ heavy bureaucratic workload was among the chief criticisms of Professor Eileen Munro’s child protection review.

In its response to her review, the government said it wanted to place greater emphasis on direct work with children, young people and families, and less on red tape.

Four out of 10 said they are also seeing cuts to frontline posts. Eight out of 10 of those seeing such cuts said this was having a negative effect on their ability to support clients.

Meanwhile, seven out of 10 of all social workers surveyed have seen their caseloads increase in the past year.

Jonathan Coxon, managing director of recruitment firm Liquid Personnel, which carried out the survey, said: “Frontline social workers need proper administrative support, leaving them free to spend more time with vulnerable children and adults.  

“Cutting that support is clearly a false economy, as less time with service-users will simply result in poorer standards of practice.”