Norfolk social worker shortage could be tackled through ‘academy’

The bid to improve Norfolk’s children’s services department could be boosted by the creation of an ‘academy’ to produce social workers at the University of East Anglia.

The council says it is in discussions with the UEA to develop an ‘academy’ approach to recruiting large groups of newly qualified social workers and helping them through their assisted and supported year in employment (ASYE).

James Joyce, cabinet member for Safeguarding Children, said: “We have already invested significant resources in frontline social work, to ensure that we have the capacity to make the improvements that are needed and can focus much more on supporting families early and helping to reduce the numbers of children coming into our care.

“We want to ensure that this is sustainable and that means developing and recruiting social workers who have the skills needed to deliver a good service to Norfolk’s children and their families.

“Part of this is ensuring that Newly Qualified Social Workers (NQSW) are well trained and supported and we are already working closely with the UEA to support them through their first year in employment.

“The Academy model we are exploring, with support from the UEA, will give us the dedicated capacity we need to ensure that our NQSWs develop the skills and breadth of experience needed to become the best social workers.

“If this is successful we will be able to grow more of our own experienced social workers, as well as recruit experience from other parts of the country.

“We still at a very early stage of development but we will be meeting with the UEA later in January to further develop the proposed model.”