Social workers putting in longer hours, survey finds

More than a third report increased hours in the last year and most spend just 15% of their time face-to-face with service users

Social workers spend just 15% of their working week face-to-face with service users, a survey has revealed.

They are working an average of 45.9 hours per week – much higher than the average of 37.2 hours they are contracted to work, the research found. When respondents were asked whether their working hours had changed in the past 12 months, more than a third said they have been working much longer hours.

The study also found 35% of time was spent carrying out administrative tasks, 12% on attending meeting, 11% travelling and 11% on the telephone.

The research, by Liquid Personnel, a social work and social care recruitment consultancy, asked more than 600 social workers how many hours they spent on certain activities during the course of a typical five-day week.

Ruth Cartwright, British Association of Social Workers England manager, said there should be much more face-to-face time with service users. She said improving “cumbersome” computer systems and introducing admin support for social workers could help free up more time.

She said: “Fifteen per cent is absolutely terrible. The main tool you use as a social worker is yourself. You obviously have to record what you’re doing, but much of the bureaucracy is unnecessary.

“The Munro report had a lot of good ideas about reducing bureaucracy. Employers should be looking at that and thinking what can we do.”

Jonathan Coxon, managing director of Liquid Personnel, said: “There have been cuts to social work staff in some local authorities and cuts to admin support which has increased the burden of admin on social workers.”

He said the aim of the study was to get a picture of working conditions for social workers.

“This is the third annual survey we’ve done. We want to raise awareness of the often challenging conditions they face in their day to day roles,” he added

A broad cross-section of workers from the sector took part, from newly qualified social workers to service managers, from across the UK.

When asked whether their working hours had changed in the last 12 months 34.4% said they are working much longer hours, and 29.4% said they are working slightly longer hours.

Cartwright said the combination of social worker posts being frozen, and a rise in demand due to the recession, meant social workers are being asked to take on more cases.

She said: “As a social worker you go into the profession because you want to help people. When your team manager says there are three more referrals it’s very difficult to say no.”

She said while most employers let staff take time back if they have worked extra hours, it can often be difficult to find the time.

A spokesperson for the College of Social Work said the increasing number of hours being worked was a concern.

He said: “Social workers aren’t afraid of hard work but when you have a large survey saying that’s the amount of hours being done, it’s terribly worrying.”