Opportunities for working differently
Sarah Pollock shares opportunities identified in the longitudinal study of local authority child and family social workers, which tracked the careers of a cohort of individual local authority child and family social workers over five years.
The Longitudinal study of local authority child and family social workers tracked the careers of a cohort of individual local authority child and family social workers over five years. The study provides unique insight into changes in the system at an aggregate level, and also how individuals’ career paths and attitudes change over time.
Sarah Pollock shares the opportunities identified in the study around:
- Continuing professional development.
- Hybrid working.
- Internal organisational support.
- Recruitment and retention.
- New ways of working with families.
Sarah Pollock is a senior lecturer in social work at Manchester Metropolitan University. She is a qualified and registered social worker and her practice experience includes working with adults in both community and hospital settings in North West England. She is the Admissions Lead for the MA Social Work programme and is also the Department International Lead for the Department of Social Care and Social Work.
(Length: 3 minutes)
Reflective questions
Consider examples from your own organisation:
- What opportunities for professional development does hybrid or online working offer for your organisation?
- How might you ensure that opportunities for professional development are equitable for all practitioners?
Related resources
- ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’? The Experiences of Forty Social Workers in England Who Had Previously Indicated They Would Stay In or Leave Children and Families Social Work | The British Journal of Social Work | Oxford Academic (oup.com).
Professional Standards
PQS:KSS - Lead and govern excellent practice | Creating a context for excellent practice | Designing a system to support effective practice
CQC - Safe | Effective | Well-led
PCF - Contexts and organisations | Professional leadership
RCOT - Collaborative | Monitor resources
