New SASW and SWU report calls on social work employers to embrace flexible working

Flexible working can help employers tackle the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

A new report by the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) and the Social Workers Union (SWU) shows that the number of social workers working flexibly varies widely across different local authorities.  

Flexible working can help maintain a happier, healthier workforce. Flexible working opportunities can stop people from leaving a job or sector entirely.  It can assist with reducing the gender pay gap, by enabling women to remain in and re-enter the workforce and support people with caring responsibilities to thrive and excel in the workplace. Part-time are roles often more valued by older workers. Therefore, flexible working arrangements should be seen as an important employment tool to support employee wellbeing and aid staff retention and recruitment. 

The new report from SASW and SWU points out the recruitment, retention, and worker wellbeing challenges the social work profession in Scotland is facing:

• 25% of social workers who graduate leave the profession within 6 years
• 19% of the profession is aged over 55
• 82% of the workforce is female
• 9.3% total vacancy rate 

The number of part-time social workers in Scotland has also remained stagnant over the last decade and the number of social workers working flexibly varying hugely between employers.  

55% of the social work employers who were asked were offering flexible working in job adverts. There are some excellent examples, but there is also a long way to go before every social work employer is proactively engaging potential employees in the opportunities of flexible work. 

National Director of SASW, Alison Bavidge, commented:  

“Social work is an immensely rewarding profession, but we know it can bring a high level of stress if the supports for social workers are not there. 

“Flexible working arrangements can benefit our communities and our workers and could be a key element in improving both recruitment and retention for social work.“ 

General Secretary of SWU, John McGowan, commented: 

“With recruitment of social workers still proving challenging for employers, now is the time for concerted action. We need to see social work employers offering more roles on part-time or flexible hours contracts. 

“Flexible working provides clear opportunities to address social work staffing shortages; it will attract and retain present workers who need a flexible working environment. This can only improve well-being and work-life balance which is much needed in our challenging profession.” 

A Scottish government spokesperson commented in The Morning Star:

“The Scottish government welcomes the work undertaken on this important subject by the Scottish Association of Social Work and the Social Workers Union.

“The report’s findings and recommendations will be considered carefully with partners in local government.”