Children’s Social Work Safe Staffing Supply and Workforce Demands Analysis

A Case Study from Northern Ireland

Bibliographic Data

ID10896243
AuthorsJustin MacLochlainn (0000-0001-9799-9719, School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Ulster University , Derry BT48 7JL, corresponding author), Paula McFadden (0000-0002-6025-5107, School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Ulster University , Derry BT48 7JL), Mary McColgan (School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Ulster University , Derry BT48 7JL), Rachel Naylor (0009-0005-1205-7957, School of Applied Social Policy Sciences, Ulster University , Derry BT48 7JL), Heike Schröder (0000-0001-8973-7954, Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast , Belfast BT9 5EE), Susan McGrory (0000-0003-4700-3746, School of Nursing, Ulster University , Newtownabbey BT37 0QB), Patricia Nicholl (Queen's University Belfast), Dawn Currie (0000-0003-2002-0407, Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast , Belfast BT9 5EE), Denise Currie, Karen Kirby (0000-0002-3278-2815, School of Psychology, Ulster University , Coleraine BT52 1SA), John Mallett (0000-0001-7539-3329, School of Psychology, Ulster University , Coleraine BT52 1SA)
Year2025
Volume55
Issue3
Pages993-1014
Publication date2025-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X
PublisherOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/bjsw/bcae163
OpenAlexW4403006165
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

The matter of ensuring adequate staffing levels in children’s social work services has become increasingly prominent due to challenges related to retention and staff well-being and exacerbated by limited governmental budgetary investment. Various operational tools and policy guidelines in the UK regulate staffing across different sectors of health and social care. However, frameworks for safe staffing in social work are less developed. This study was based on qualitative and quantitative methodologies and specifically targeted Gateway and Family Intervention child protection teams in Northern Ireland, given the significant caseloads and staffing shortages within these specific team structures. The analysis unveiled systemic issues demanding systemic solutions. Frontline social workers and managers were often contending with overwhelming worker-to-caseload ratios, extensive waitlists and vacancies within teams. This analysis also assisted in defining safe staffing in social work, including service-user safety, and staff well-being and retention. These findings serve as a foundation for evidence-based strategic planning, informing the development and enactment of safer and effective social work policies and legislation in the forthcoming years

Business · Economic growth · Economics · Legislation · Political science · Public relations · Service (business) · Service delivery framework · Staffing · Work (physics) · Workforce · Workforce planning · Child Abuse and Trauma · Engineering · Healthcare innovation and challenges · Marketing · Medicine · Nursing · Social Work Education and Practice · Social Work

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access