Social Service Workforce Strengthening

A strong social service workforce is critical to meeting the needs of children without adequate family care. From government policy-makers, local administrators, researchers and social workers, to educators, community workers and care providers, social service actors play a key role in protecting girls and boys and promoting their care.

The development of a skilled and well-supported social service workforce is particularly important as countries move toward reforming their care systems and work to reduce reliance on residential care, strengthen families, prevent separation and promote family and community-based alternative care options. This is a challenging undertaking that requires social service actors from national to community level who are competent and willing to make changes to the way they deliver care, and are able to establish and manage a new range of preventive and responsive care services to children and families.

Strengthening the social service workforce in any country is complex. It involves creating supportive legislation and policies; developing recruitment, selection, employment, supervision, support and registration procedures; establishing education and training programmes; improving working conditions, ensuring licensing and practice standards; recognizing the status of care professionals; and raising awareness to change mindsets on care.

All of this requires working with a wide range of actors involved in supporting children and families. Substantial allocation (or redirection) of financial resources is also required, to ensure that sufficient numbers of skilled social service workers are available to work directly with children and their families at the community level, as well as at a higher administrative level to oversee care services and regulations.

This section contains documentation of social service workforce development within the context of national care reform and child protection system strengthening, including guidance, lessons learned and training tools.

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Professional social work and the defence of children’s and their families’ rights in a period of austerity: A case study

Jane Tunstill, Carolyne Willow - Social Work and Social Sciences Review, 2017

This article explores the implications of austerity for professional child and family social workers in the UK.

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European Recommendations on the Implementation of a Child Rights-Based Approach for Care Professionals Working with and for Children

SOS Children’s Villages International, 01 Nov 2016

The European Recommendations on the implementation of a child rights-based approach for care professionals working with and for children highlights the steps to be undertaken to develop a child care service workforce capable of applying a child rights-based approach to their work.

Storify - International Alternative Care Conference - Building the Momentum, 3-5 October 2016

Better Care Network, 31 Oct 2016

A summary of the International Alternative Care Conference 2016 via Storify.

Engaging Parents, Developing Leaders: A Self-Assessment and Planning Tool for Nonprofits and Schools

Annie E. Casey Foundation , 01 Aug 2016

This self-assessment and planning tool is intended for nonprofits and schools working with families to provide services that more effectively reach and engage parents in fostering their children's development.

Children’s services in Spain: a study of the organisation and implementation of children’s services in three regions in response to European recommendations

Almudena Moreno - Journal of Children's Services, 06 Jul 2016

The purpose of this paper is to map the current organisation and implementation of children’s services in three regions of Spain, to identify strengths and gaps and to suggest proposals for improvement in line with European recommendations.

Skills and professional practices for the consolidation of the support group model to foster families

M. Àngels Balsells, Nuria Fuentes-Peláez, Maribel Mateo, J. M. Torralba & Verónica Violant - European Journal of Social Work, 16 Jun 2016

This research addresses the need to go deeper into the acquisition and consolidation of the core professional competences for running socio-educational groups with foster families.

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The State of the Social Service Workforce 2016 Report: A review of five years of workforce strengthening

Global Social Service Workforce Alliance, 02 Jun 2016

This report captures what has been accomplished in social service workforce strengthening in eight countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlights areas for future intervention. Progress made to strengthen the social service workforce within these countries is useful when reflecting on global trends and ways forward.

Summary Report of the 3rd Annual Global Social Service Workforce Symposium

Global Social Service Workforce Alliance, 02 Jun 2016

This report includes a summary of each of the panel discussions at the symposium, as well as the questions asked, and provides the text of the opening and closing remarks from the event.

Mutual Support for the Care Reform Community

Janestic Twikirize and Florence Martin - GSSWA and BCN, 05 May 2016

This presentation by Janestic Twikirize and Florence Martin of the Global Social Service Workforce Alliance (GSSWA) and Better Care Network (BCN) respectively, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, describes the work of both organizations and highlights the importance of mutual supporting in advancing care reform efforts.

In-Country Training Opportunities for the Social Services Workforce - Zambia

Benson Chisanga, Ph.D. - University of Zambia, Department of Social Development Studies, 05 May 2016

This presentation from Benson Chisanga, of the University of Zambia’s Department of Social Development Studies, given at the Zambia National Consultation to Accelerate Care Reform, provides basic information on opportunities for the training of the social service workforce in Zambia, focusing on levels of training, challenges, and future prospects.