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Updated: 11.05
ONE SOCIAL WORKER per week resigned from their job between 2010 and 2013.
Social workers are almost twice as likely to resign their positions when compared to management and administrative staff in the HSE, according to figures obtained by Morning Ireland.
There are currently 193 social worker vacancies nationwide. To date, offers have been made in relation to a third of this figure. There are currently 487 children in care without a social worker.
Speaking anonymously on Morning Ireland, one social worker shared why she had left her job:
“The burnout is incredible, the impact on your sanity is incredible.
Every social worker social worker I speak to has an exit plan … it’s impossible, it’s not something you can stay in.
The woman said she didn’t want to be part of “a system that was causing [children and families] further harm and stress,” adding: “It’s not right what’s happening.”
She said that months’ notice is given before a Hiqa inspection and, in this time, agency staff are brought in to fill vacancies, before being let go as soon as the inspection is over.
Mark Gray (24) had eight different social workers while he was in care for 13 years when he was younger.
He told Morning Ireland this lack of consistency was very difficutlt as it takes time to build up a relationship with a social worker
“It’s unfair for the kids, we’ve already seen hard times in our life.”
Tusla
Fred McBride, Chief Operations Officer at Tusla (the Child and Family Agency), said that no agency staff have been hired simply to pass Hiqa inspections since the organisation was set up a year ago.
In the first year since Tusla was established that has never ever happened because I make those decisions. Agency staff remain until permanent staff return, or are hired. We never bring in agency staff simply to cover an inspection.
McBride said he couldn’t say if this practice happened before Tusla was set up.
The figures obtained by RTÉ show that 326 social workers left their positions between 2010 and 2013, representing a turnover rate of more than 15%. Of this number, 208 resigned, 50 retired, 28 reached the end of their contracts, two died, one left because of permanent infirmity, and 37 joined another health board or agency.
McBride said that 102 of Ireland’s 1700 social workers left their jobs in 2014, representing a turnover rate of about 4.8%. He said this compared very favourably with neighbouring countries such as Scotland, which has a turnover rate of close to 10%.
He said specific actions are being taken to improve retention rates, such as providing extra cover for maternity leave and looking at how to reward people to stay in practice, rather than move into management.
Jennifer Gargan, the Director of EPIC (Empowering People in Care), said the information released today shows that “the commitments made in the Ryan Report have not been achieved leaving the most vulnerable children at risk”.
The impact of not having a social worker and frequent turnover rates has a profound effect on children developing trusting relationships. These children are in need of consistency and continuity of care. Children having meaningful relationships with their social worker is a key protective factor.
“Social workers need to be effectively supported where caseloads must be manageable. The Government needs to re-commit to recommendations outlined in the Ryan Report and Tusla, must ensure that every child at risk has an allocated social worker,” Gargan stated.
Originally published: 8.57am
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I couldn’t do it.
A highly stressful job, poorly paid, with little or nothing in the way of Gov resources or backup. They are a valuable and scarce resource who sometimes get bad press. Yet we never realise the daily horrors these brave people endure for the benefit of society.
Not quite as poorly paid as you may think…
Frank you have no idea what you are talking about It has nothing to do with money, this is the most distressful job I know. The sad result is that both the social workers and their clients are suffering from cuts and the results of the mismanagement of this service will be seen in the future with a even greater rise in suicides and crime
@Willie
Reference to children to whom social workers are assigned as “clients” is political correctness gone mad.
It’s a long-used term, Ciaran, the same way children are ‘patients’ to doctors. Nothing overly PC about it.
Usually, the word “client” is used to refer to a person who pays for a service, i.e. legal advice, accounting. Children are not in a position to pay.
What do you prefer? What about “file folder 123abc”, or “burden on the state 456def.” What about “failed bankster / drug money launderer / IFSC worker / gangster 789ghi” – that sounds appropriate to your notion of political correctness.
@mnz
Just refer to them as children or, in the case of older teenagers, adolescents.
Grow up willie.. its a public sector job with all the fantastic benefits that go with it .. yes its extremely stressful .. yes the hands are tied by legislation and bureaucracy but that’s where it’s at… oh BTW a very close family is a social worker. . So I do know what I am talking about… If you think it’s a hard job try being a NCHD (hospital doctor) … its all subjective like school teachers thinking working 30 hours a week is a hard job..
Frank, being an NCHD and a social worker on most areas of practice have very similar stress levels (in particular Child Protection where the majority are employed). Both carrying excessive and unmanageable cases caseloads, both work exhaustingly long hours often to the detriment of their own family/personal lives, both are expected to undertake critical assessments within time constraints and maintain accurate records in spite of competing demands, there is an expectation that both will remain compassionate, empathetic and supportive even when they are over stretched and completely worn out….I could go on. Actual and threatened physical assault and damage to personal property (cars in particular) are occupational hazards. Perhaps your relative social worker is in the enviable social work minority of having a manageable case load and being appropriately resourced and supported.
Successive pay cuts, stealth taxes and pension levy, cost of registration and compulsory continuous education for with the social worker personally carries the cost completely annihilates the once perceived benefit of being a public servant. While there is comfort and security in having s permanent job that has to be balanced against the impact of that job upon the worker personally. Social workers remuneration is in NO reflective of that balance when compared to other professions. It is for all of the above reasons that retention of social workers continues to be problematic.
You have no idea how long teachers’ hours are, so please don’t use us in your argument. In secondary school, we are timetabled to teach 22 hours, but many of us are in school from 8am until 4pm, doing corrections, planning, phoning parents, meeting parents, seeing tests, filling in reports etc when we can. We also do corrections and planning outside these hours, with many teachers spending hours in the evenings and at weekends, doing this work. This amounts to a hell of a lot more than the 30 hours quoted by you. It is very difficult to be a public sector worker in this current climate, so please don’t judge something of which you have no real knowledge or experience.
Maria, thank you for your kind insight, my original comment which drew over 200 red thumbs was in response to the first comment who remarked that social work was poorly paid, which i disagree with, however it may not be as well paid as is deserved, but then there are many in the same boat…
Ah, that old chestnut. The default response to any teacher. A poor argument.
My book, Therapy In Action with Insights and Strategies for Anyone Living or Working with Troubled Kids, now available on Amazon.com calls for better funding for agencies that serve children and families. Read the sample chapters and see how this book will benefit you.
You should do the same poll on nurses of all disciplines.. MTA’s.. Paramedics….Doctors.
My partner works in child protection and under a manager who was a plumber before hand. The complete lack of respect and help she and fellow staff get from her manager and peers is astounding. In his own words, you have no voice here and if you don’t like it you don’t have to work here. Due to the untouchable managers staff turn over where she works is massive not to mention the amount of staff forced out on sick leave due to harassment. This is NOT a well paid job for people with a masters behind them. My partner would leave in the morning if she had other options
Social Work as a profession has lost its way within its present context and has become more like a civil service than a social work service. Within this new agency TUSLA the old culture of hear no evil, see no evil and most critically say nothing about the evil and incompetency you experience and see, has become even more entrenched.So frontline social workers in community care are under no illusions–no matter what you see, how you feel about what you are instructed to do—even if it goes against every decent bone in your body never mind your training –you keep your mouth shut . If you are regarded as being difficult within the workplace–i.e saying too much and questioning too much of what is going on in relation to child protection practise than you can be sure that you are labelled .your chances of promotion are zilch ,and if you have to leave, your chances of getting another job in social work in this country are severely hampered. This is only part of what is going on. if it didnt affect so many vulnerable children you could say it is ironic that alot of social workers, who are expected to advocate on behalf of people who feel they have no voice, are not allowed to have a voice themselves. Sick –when they are supposed to be protecting children.
I think its time that they stood up as a group and said enough is enough and really started to advocate on behalf of the children they are supposed to protect.There are many other difficulties in relation to this whole area. Child protection is even more in the toilet then it was before and it is a tragedy because we had a rare opportunity with this new agency to make a real difference and we have failed miserably. I wouldn,t advise anyone to go into frontline social work as it is constituted at present.
All well and good, but you haven’t mentioned the darkly malaevolent effect of the (no) IMPACT union on this situation. They are politically controlled and led…… to keep the status quo and are happy to accept the weekly remittances from social workers while doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to protect them – why? Because they represent the buraucratic establishment, that is the very essence of oppression of social workers and theri clients as well as being – often politically appointed former plumbers or refuse disposal workers – that have squirmed their way up the political mangement tree to become union protected sharp suited admnistrators and managers in the HSE / TUSLA structures……..Social workers would do well to try to join the nurses union at the earliest opportunity.
Yes you are quite right I didnt mention it –there is alot i didn’t mention . I agree with you –the lack of I.M.P.A..C. T. in frontline social workers lives is a disgrace. This particular union have for years been in bed with management. –to the detriment of its social work members. Too many people have lost respect for social workers. Its now past time social workers became totally revolting and formed themselves into a more effective body. Otherwise they are going to become even more irrelevant to the lives of children they are tasked to protect. ..
It is such a travesty to have such limited funding and to be so boggled down by paperwork and red tape, that you can’t spend the much needed time with the children and families you are trying to serve. Troubled children need help, now! The resources we spend on them now will save us hundreds of thousands of dollars per child, down the road. We need better funding, less paperwork, and less red tape, for programs that are designed to serve troubled children and their families.
Some people are not suited to Social Work esp the Child protection end but there are other sectors less stressful because the child protection end is quite depresssing with hospitals,geriatrics and in the prison service.
Also its not nice getting treats to burn your car out just because your trying to do your job.
The assault levels are higher for social workers than other caring professions like nurses doctors paramedics. Other professions have concessions due to the dangers and stress levels like early retirement sleave for work injuries etc. you can’t protect children without valuing those that do it. They will leave within a year or two to easier areas of work as it is too stressful and you end up with the most inexperienced doing the hardest work unsupported and children will suffer as a result
Concessions for stress levels ??? There are no concessions for that in my role as a doctor. I will not be able to retire early. I cannot take time off if I’m stressed. If I don’t go to work , my bills won’t be paid.
@ Helen, many of those employed in child protection are dealing with distressing cases every day and are tasked with becoming far more involved in a family’s situation than a hospital doctor or even the family’s GP. Doctors do deal with these cases but not all day and not to the depth that a social worker does. I’m not involved in either profession by the way.
Helen if you are hse doctor you get ten year notional service for your pension hence you can retire early
With all due respect Helen I have yet to meet a doctor who has had to deal with the daily abuse, assaults threats from parents and the children she is trying get to help as my wife does. While we all know your job can be very demanding it not on the same planet when it comes to the abuse taken. This isn’t about money, it’s about the complete lack of respect for the job they do from the HSC parents and now it’s seems doctors to.
Who cares about children – successive Irish governments have shown that they don’t.
I f you have no heart, then this kind of work is a breeze, – otherwise, it is soul-destroying.
under 4 percent per year seems normal in any professional job
The numbers don’t match up, someone is being economical with the truth.
I’m in my first year of university to become a social worker. The turnover figure is appalling but never the less it doesn’t make me reconsider, in fact it compounds my decision to become a social worker. Ireland more than ever needs social workers but the red tape that workers are always in face of needs to be constantly addressed.
I do a few months volunteering work with the St. V. De P. in Galway 20 years ago and the poverty in this country is massive, I do not know the extent now but the governments of this country have no idea. They live in a world were the poorest people they know are those who work for them. It was like this before the property and water charge but what is it like now? The government do not care at all.
1916 – a middle class revolution to protect the interests of the farmers, church, buraucrats and business people – screw the poor, maybe they would emigrate.
1916 Rising? But the farmers were ready to kill those in the rising because it was the middle of WW1 and all the youth of England was away at war. So Ireland was selling vegetables and beef to England and were happy doing this because not many were working the land in England as well as over a million horse that were used for farming in England were off in the war.
Many Irish (Dubliners) hated the Rising, it wasn’t until they saw how those involved in the Rising were executed that they became Martyrs. Ireland was making money out of the war. Remember at the time the most Irish that went to fight the war came from the South East of Ireland. WW1 kept the business people here busy selling to England and they liked it.
Bloody do-gooders.
Bloody fool
Yep
amos
I hope you never have mental problems and need a social worker
Surely, the recruitment of doctors, nurses and paramedics is much more important than the recruitment of social workers.
Look at it this way, yes there is a deficit in the number of health care staff in this country, but if they don’t maintain their number of social workers, neglect can lead to physical and mental illnesses, thus putting even more strain on the health system.
If they decide “right, we only need 500 social workers for the whole country”, could you imagine what the country would be like? Hospitals would be full of children with injuries, malnutrition and diseases that relate to such because there is only approximately 17 social workers per county with roughly 5000 plus people, not mentioning the cities in Ireland. Social workers are just as important as nurses and doctors.
I have great respect for this woman .. Thank you for being so honest … People like you should be management …the culture of the H.s.e . I can’t even put into words ..
Big willy you would know if amos needs social worker you knew what amos meant on Beaumont article when amos did not even say what he meant.
Why was a recommendation of the recruitment of more social workers made in the Ryan report? The welfare of children in care today is nothing to do with the abuse of children that took place in industrial schools.
The issue Ciarán is outcomes for children in state care, which remains unacceptably poor and for far too many devastatingly (and avoidably) so. There is a link between outcomes for children in state care and the capacity of the responsible services to met the needs of these children. Sadly, these services continue to be grossly under-resourced, continuously overwhelmed and shamefully badly supported. Metaphorically speaking, current service provision is akin to going into a burning building (to rescue trapped kids) with a bucket of sand, a fire blanket and a 2 litre bottle of water… It’s not hard to imagine that if anyone survives that scenario all (kids and rescuers) will have horrific injuries and scars (hence poor outcomes and staff burnout). And that just child protection! Other areas include child and adult mental health, the elderly, intellectual disabilities, probation to name but a few.
In response to your earlier comment, I accept that we desperately need more medical staff, however physical illness are not the only illnesses that beget Irish society. Show some gratitude to socials workers whose tireless dedication to the relentlessly demanding, emotionally exhausting and largely invisible work that they do protects the rest of society from having to consider such social illness, often horrific in nature. The children’s story ‘the elves and the shoemaker’ comes to mind…invisible little minions working tirelessly behind the scenes so others may peacefully sleep.
See my book, Therapy in Action with Insights and Strategies for Anyone Living or Working with Troubled Kids, now available on Amazon.com as an e book. Review the sample chapters to see how it will benefit you!
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