DfE publishes report on Children’s Social Work Workforce

The Department for Education (DfE) has published a statistical report on the Children’s Social Work Workforce for year ending 30 September 2014. 

This experimental statistical first release (SFR) is the second publication to use data from the statutory children’s social work workforce data collection.

It covers the:

• number of social workers;
• vacancy rate of social workers;
• number of agency workers;
• turnover rate of social workers; and
• sickness absence of social workers.

Key figures

26,810 - The number of children’s social workers reported to be employed in English local authorities at 30 September 2014. This is equivalent to 24,620 full-time equivalents (FTEs).

16 - The number of children in need per FTE children’s social worker.

4,320 - The number of FTE vacancies reported at 30 September 2014. Local authorities estimate they need 4,570 social workers to fill these posts. The FTE vacancy rate reported at 30 September 2014 was 15%.

4,430 - The number of agency social workers employed by local authorities at 30 September 2014. This is equivalent to 4,310 FTEs.

4,630 - The number of children’s social workers that were reported to have commenced employment during the year ending 30 September 2014. This is equivalent to 4,420 FTEs.

4,400 - The number of children’s social workers that were reported to have left their local authority during the year ending 30 September 2014. This is equivalent to 4,060 FTEs. The FTE turnover rate reported during the year ending 30 September 2014 was 17%.

To download the the statistical report, click here.