Child Care Solicitors

Cornwall Council says it has developed an innovative approach to the recruitment of more children’s services staff, involving training local people as social workers.

There is currently a national shortage of children’s services professionals – Cornwall’s children’s social care service currently has 225 full-time equivalent children’s social workers, with vacancies filled by agency social workers.

Around 10% of children’s social workers are agency staff, which is lower than both the southwest and national averages.

Head of Cornwall Council’s Early Help, Psychology and Social Care Services, Jack Cordery, said:

“We are committed to those who want to work with our most vulnerable children and young people – and have developed a ‘grow your own’ approach, where we offer opportunities for local people who are living in and are committed to Cornwall to train to become social workers.

“This has proved to be very successful, with around 18 people training to become social workers at any one time.

“Our Assessed and Supported Year in Employment offer to newly qualified social workers is now nationally respected – and, as a result, we also receive applications from all over the country, as well as those from people living in Cornwall.”

Principal Child and Family Social Worker, Marion Russell – a social worker who oversees the Foundation for Social Work in Cornwall – added:

“As well as offering placements to students and running our trainee programme, the service also attracts experienced social workers through its excellent skills-based, evidence-informed learning and development programme – with access to post-qualifying accredited learning in our partnership with Plymouth University.

“We have an established Career and Qualification Pathway that promotes learning and practice – and rewards the most experienced social workers who stay in practice.

“This summer, we will launch our ‘Return to Social Work’ scheme, to offer opportunities for those who have had a break in their career to refresh their knowledge, skills and practice.”

The work of Cornwall Council’s children’s social care team has been praised by the authority’s Lead Member for Children and Young People, Andrew Wallis, who said:

“Social workers in Cornwall do a fantastic job in what can often be difficult and challenging circumstances – and I would like to publicly thank them for their hard work and commitment.

“The success of our ‘grow our own’ scheme means that we have been able to recruit and retain high quality staff, who are working very hard to keep our children and young people safe.

“We are also seeing applications from experienced staff in other parts of the country, who are impressed by what we are doing in Cornwall.“

Duncan Lewis Children Lawyers

Duncan Lewis children lawyers can advise parents on a wide range of child care law and family matters, including parents’ duties under the Education Act 1996 and SEND.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Section 38 enquiries, pre-proceedings meetings, children taken into Local Authority care and Court of Protection cases.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and Duncan Lewis advises on family and child care matters under UK law and Islamic law, as well as being able to advise on cross-border family issues, such as child care arrangements, leave to remove and international parent-child abduction.

For expert legal advice on family and child care matters, call Duncan Lewis children lawyers on 0333 772 0409.