Survey reports improved wellbeing for social workers

Figures relate to the annual workforce heath check for 2020-21 and are the highest since 2018.

Taking the form of an online survey, the assessment was circulated between September 14 and November 1, 2021. It was sent to 117 social workers and 290 non-social work qualified employees, at grade five and above, who work directly with adults and carers or manage those teams.

The survey was also presented to the wider workforce, which includes social care workers, day opportunities team leaders, reablement assistants, welfare rights officers, direct payments officers and occupational therapists.

Results for both groups showed a 55 per cent response rate for social workers, compared to 52 per cent in 2020, and a 41 per cent rate for the workforce survey compared to 33 per cent the previous year.

Jennifer Rogers, principal social worker at Wolverhampton Council, said: “The council carries out a survey each year to check the ‘health’ of its social workers and this forms part of adult services’ ongoing self-assessment.

“For the last three years a survey has also been circulated more widely to include all the frontline adults’ workforce within the council.

“Health checks were a key recommendation of the National Social Work Task Force, which was set up by government after the death of 'Baby P'.

“There was recognition that the whole system impacts on individual social workers and also on the overall quality of social work practice,” she added.

“This report provides a summary of the main findings, including areas which have progressed as a result of actions taken over the last 12 months, and also any actions that are in progress to address the key areas for improvement.”

Nationally, social work is on the occupational shortage list. Services in Wolverhampton offer apprenticeships, extensive training and PhD sponsorship opportunities.

The survey found that there had been a slight increase in social workers working over their contracted hours, possibly down to continuous home working creating some ‘work creep’, with employees feeling the need to answer calls or emails after work hours.

“In this year’s health check those reporting they always or often feel stress due to work has reduced,” said the report.

“The vast majority reported they know where to get help if they are concerned about their wellbeing. Far more this year are satisfied with the quality of supervision – 89 per cent – the highest since the survey began in 2017.”

An action plan has now been completed to address key areas requiring improvement including a redesign of adult social care, a continued strategy of recruitment and staff retention and the finalisation of a post-Covid operating model

The council’s adult and safer city scrutiny panel will discuss the findings of the report next Wednesday.