The LGA works closely with Government and partners across the social work sector to provide support to employers of social workers.
The Standards for Employers of Social Workers set out the shared core expectations of employers which enable social workers in all settings to work effectively and safely.
The annual Health Check survey is designed to understand the experience of registered social workers and social care professionals in relation to the standards.
In 2022, the LGA worked with sector partners to develop standards for employers of occupational therapists. There is also an annual Health Check for OTs.
The Health Check serves as a useful tool which councils and social care organisations can use to plan improvement actions.
Return to social work
You can read about our Return to Social Work programme, offered free training to social workers who were restarting their careers in local government.
Best mentoring initiative London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
Senior managers at Barking and Dagenham Council recognised that a combination of ongoing professional development and career management, alongside quality supervision, was critical in retaining social workers across the council’s children’s social work teams.
Read about their programme.