The Standards for employers of social workers in England set out core expectations for employers and applies to all settings social workers are employed in. They are published by the Local Government Association on behalf of 16 sector stakeholders, including UNISON. Signing up to the Standards is voluntary and there is not a published list. Here is a link to the Standards:
https://www.local.gov.uk/standards-employers-social-workers-england-0
Please can you answer the following questions:
1. Is your organisation signed up to the Standards for Employers of Social Workers?
The standards are relevant to all employers of social workers. They relate to all registered social workers employed within an organisation, including managers and social work students.
As part of meeting the Standards Principal Social Workers are committed to completing an annual Health Check to assess practice conditions and working environments for their social workers. In 2020 the Health Check became a standardised online survey and was offered free to all councils.
2. Did your organisation carry out the 2020 Standards Health Check?
Childrens Services – No, we completed the Health Check Survey with What Works for Children’s Social Care pilot
Adult services – Yes we extended the survey to all our workers.
3. If you answered yes to question 2 did you:
a) Publish the Health Check findings for your organisation
Yes, we have fed back to our staff (Adults)
b) Agree a joint action plan with UNISON on how to take forward the Health Check findings
No (Adults)
4. If your organisation is not currently signed up to the Standards are you considering doing so for 2021?
Not applicable
5. Will your organisation be completing the 2021 Health Check when it is issued this autumn?
Children’s services – Yes
Adult services – No