Dozens quit as children's social workers in Bradford in 2021

The new data, from the Department for Education, shows that in the year to September 2021, 56 full-time social workers left their jobs in Bradford, meaning 278 have done so since 2017.

It’s another example of the crisis which has afflicted children’s services in the district in recent years, with staff having to handle large caseloads and the department increasingly reliant on expensive agency work.

Following the murder of toddler Star Hobson – whose mother Frankie Smith was jailed for allowing her death, and her girlfriend Savannah Brockhill jailed for Star's murder last December – a review into children’s services took place.

Earlier this year, children’s services was taken out of Bradford Council’s control to drive improvements, with the report into failings around Star’s case merged with that of Birmingham boy Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, and due to be published later this year.

In the figures from the DfE, 42 of those who left their jobs in 2021 had been working in Bradford for fewer than five years, and 30 of them lasted less than two years.

"Unmanageable caseloads and deteriorating working conditions"

While the number of social workers across England has risen in recent years, the number leaving the sector is rising at a quicker pace.

Last year the number of workers rose by two per cent to 32,500, but 5,000 children’s social works left their roles, the highest number in five years and up 16 per cent from the year before.

The British Association of Social Workers said “unmanageable caseloads and deteriorating working conditions” were to blame for people leaving the sector.

The attractiveness of agency work, with more flexibility and better pay, also makes it harder for local authorities to retain staff in care work.

Last September there were 296 vacancies advertised in Bradford, up from 122 the year before, with 336 social workers employed full-time in the district.

Anthony Dhadwal, from the BASW, said the association had warned the Government for years over a lack of support for new social workers and the number of experienced staff leaving the profession.

He said: “Time and time again the reasons our members have given have remained consistent – unmanageable caseloads, deteriorating working conditions and a lack of resources to help families.

“Without a fully staffed and resourced workforce, we risk social workers not being able to meet their obligations as individuals, and teams will be overstretched."

The figures don’t relate solely to people leaving the profession, and may also include staff moving between local authorities or into different areas of social work.

Councillor Sue Duffy, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for Children and Families, said: “The Government Commissioner highlights many strengths in Bradford Children’s Social Services including the commitment of staff and extra resources we have invested.

“But he also highlights the challenges we still face – not least of which is recruiting a stable workforce.

“Social workers do difficult work in often challenging circumstances however it is also a hugely rewarding job. When enabled to do their best work social workers change lives for the better. We are thankful for all they do.

“Obviously, this is a national issue but something we have to particularly focus on here in Bradford. Overcoming these challenges so we can provide better outcomes for children and families and support our front-line staff is vital.

“We have launched a major recruitment campaign, called Bring Heart, and have launched a new academy for newly qualified social workers in the district who work with children, young people and families.

“The announcement of a new children’s company gives us fresh impetus and additional resource. It will give our valued staff certainty over the future direction of the service and then in turn children in the district will feel the impact of this work sooner.”

A DfE spokesperson said there were more social workers in the profession now than ever before, and that the Government helped local authorities retain and recruit social workers by funding fast track training and professional support.

She said councils had access to mental health services to help social workers remain resilient and stay in the profession, with peer-to-peer support available.

She added: “We recognise the pressure on children’s services, which is why we are providing councils with £4.8 billion in new grant funding to help maintain vital frontline services, including children’s social care.”