TSELF loan will help relieve social worker crisis

A new co-operative providing locum social workers and social care staff has been set up in North East England thanks to a £60,000 loan from The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (TSELF).

The problems involved in recruiting and retaining social workers have hit the headlines in recent months since Baby P and other cases highlighted failings in the service. Figures revealed earlier this year showed that as many as one in seven social worker posts with local authorities may be vacant. The Social Work Co-operative (SWC) is a unique pilot scheme which has been set up with the aim of reducing the country’s current social worker crisis.

The Social Work Co-operative has been established by a team of social enterprise experts, including a former social worker, and will not only supply high quality, temporary staff to local authorities but will also give social workers themselves an opportunity to benefit from better terms and conditions and levels of support.

The new enterprise was founded by three people: Dr Guy Turnbull, who has worked across the UK as a social economy consultant, Carol Bell, social and community enterprise expert and Walter Young, founder and co-director of the highly successful not-for-profit agency, Team Fostering.

SWC will be able to offer local authorities skilled and experienced social workers at an affordable price and all staff registered with the co-operative will become members and benefit from a share of the profits, in addition to having a say in how the organisation is run.

“The structure of the organisation means there will be no external shareholders, ensuring higher than usual levels of investment will be made in support, guidance and supervision systems for staff,” says Dr Turnbull. “We welcome the loan from TSELF, which will play a vital role in getting this exciting new venture off the ground.”

Rod Jones, Regional Director of TSELF, adds: “This is a pioneering project to create a new way of organising the provision of social work services. The co-operative model, which will provide members with a direct input into the running of the business and a share in the profits, will help to ensure staff are motivated and committed. We were delighted to help out.”

Once the format has been tested in the North East the plan is establish a social franchising network to roll out a number of similar social work agencies across the UK.

For more information about the Social Work Co-operative call 0845 313 8452