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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Investing in the relationship: practitioners’ relationships with looked-after children and care leavers in Social Work Practices

Julie Ridley, Cath Larkins, Nicola Farrelly, Shereen Hussein, Helen Austerberry, Jill Manthorpe and Nicky Stanley - Child and Family Social Work, 01 Feb 2016

This paper uses findings from interviews with 169 children and young people across 11 local authorities in England and 5 Social Work Practices (SWPs), undertaken as part of a 3-year national matched control evaluation of pilot SWPs, to identify key elements of good quality practitioner relationships with children or young people.

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The Community Mapping Toolkit: A Guide to Community Asset Mapping for Community Groups and Local Organisations

Preston City Council, 2016

This toolkit explains the process behind asset mapping, looks at how to carry out a Community Street Audit, provides advice on making asset mapping meaningful and ensuring it leads to constructive action, and on involving different sections of the community - including community residents, elected councillors and representatives from local services. Finally it looks at the tools you may need, and how to keep community and local agencies informed of any action plans arising from the asset mapping.

A Better Future is Possible: Promoting Family Life for Children with Disabilities in Residential Care - Manual for Professionals

International Social Service, 2016

This manual provides guidance to professionals who work with children with disabilities in residential care.

Un Futuro Mejor es Posible: Promover la Vida Familiar para Niños con Discapacidad en Institución - Manual para Profesionales

Servicio Social Internacionale, 2016

Este manual proporciona orientación a los profesionales que trabajan con niños con discapacidades en el cuidado residencial.

Supervision Guideline for Pusan Dukungan Anak dan Keluarga (PDAK) Child and Family Support Centre Social Workers in Working with Children and Families

Susan Morwood, 2016

This Supervision Guideline document from Save the Children contains guidelines and underlying principles for Pusan Dukungan Anak dan Keluarga (PDAK) child and family support centre social workers in working with children and families.

Case Management in Child and Family Support Centre / Pusat Dukungan Anak dan Keluarga (PDAK)

Tata Sudrajat, Dr. Kanya Eka Santi, Nurjannah - Yayasan Sayangi Tunas Cilik , 2016

This book introduces the PDAK – Pusat Dukungan Anak dan Keluarga (Child and Family Support Centre) in Indonesia and the case management system utilized within the centre.

United States: Major child welfare reform legislation to come in new year

First Focus, 09 Dec 2015

According to the advocacy organization, First Focus, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee is planning to consider new legislation known as the Family First Act in January 2016. The legislation would direct investments at keeping children safe and supported at home and in family-like settings.

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Revitalizing Recruitment: Practical Strategies for Finding and Keeping Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Homes

New York State Office of Children and Family Services, 01 Dec 2015

This guide, published by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, provides a summary of promising practices currently used in recruitment and retention of foster/adoptive families.

Realising children’s rights: A training manual for care professionals working with children in alternative care

SOS Children’s Villages International, 01 Nov 2015

The two-day course outlined in these pages is designed to familiarise groups of care professionals with the international standards and principles surrounding children’s rights – and above all, to relate this to the daily experience and challenges arising in the field of alternative care.

The Role of Social Service Workforce Strengthening in Care Reform Presentation

Beth Bradford, Global Social Service Workforce Alliance & Better Care Network - ISPCAN European Conference, 28 Sep 2015

This presentation was given by Beth Bradford at the ISPCAN European Conference in September 2015.