This request is specific to Children’s Services or such organisation that meets statutory duties concerning children at risk of harm or children in need.
1.Other than processing individual applicants, have you strategically recruited internationally-qualified child protection social workers over the last three years (2019, 2020 and 2021 which may remain in process)? Years should reflect the date of interview.
Yes
1a. How many social workers did you interview and how many did you appoint?
30 interviewed 2019
15 appointed
1b. Please specify the source country(citizenship) of each SW and their country of training (which may be different:).
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1c. Please specify if applicants had international experience outside of their country of training.
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1d. Please also specify the number of complete years of post-qualification experience: less than 12 months; 12 months and a day to two years; two years and a day to three years; more than three years and a day.
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1e. Please indicate if SWs passed their 6 month probationary periods, passed with an extension, failed with or without an extension… and whether they remain in your employment.
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
1f. Broken down according to the value of the contract if using an external provider how and where did you circulate and promote the opportunity given UK procurement requirements? Did you promote such opportunities in potential source countries by, for example, advertising on the website of the New Zealand Association of SWs? If so, how did you engage with nationals of preferred source countries?
Devon County Council (DCC) did not use an external provider
1g. Please provide copy of any tender specification and any contract that flowed from your international recruitment initiative.
N/A
1h. This is linked to the number of years post-qualification experience. Please provide your salary scale and the point on the scale at which SWs were appointed. If this did not reflect post-qualification experience: why did it not? Some employers review and backdate salaries after 6 or 12 months: was this or another approach your preferred way of securing employment?
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
2a Did you use an agency to assist with the process?
No
2b. Which type of visa did SWs obtain and at what cost (including extras such as the health care surcharge)?
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
3a. Please provide details of any induction program that was delivered to internationally-qualified SWs. If this duplicated or dovetailed into your induction program for newly qualified UK SWs was this simply a matter of convenience? If not, please advise how the needs of, for example, a social worker with ten years experience in South Africa (as may be the case with some Zimbabweans) , are considered to be the same as those with next to zero post-qualification experience?
Our staff were provided with 6 months coaching and mentoring support from a practice development advisors in the Children’s Social Care Academy as well as having a reduced case load for the 6 months. Coaching and mentoring was tailored to the individual needs of the staff members.
Staff had access to the workshops provided to newly qualified staff as well as separate workshops to support them learn and understanding English legislation, culture of UK and specifically to where they work and type of service they are in. The group of staff also had wellbeing supported through buddy approach and monthly sessions together as a staff cohort (led by the Academy Ethnic Diversity Group). They were also inducted to their own teams via our induction process and their managers would have 3 way meetings with the staff member, their practice development advisor to discuss progress, additional support etc. that might be needed as well as the staff member’s personal monthly supervision and probation reviews.
3b. Please provide details you may have obtained concerning feedback from internationally-trained SWs on their recruitment and on their induction. How has such feedback informed future practice?
DCC do not hold this information.
4a. From the date of initial/provisional job offer what proportion of applicants took under 4 weeks; 4 -8 weeks, longer than 8 weeks to obtain certificates of sponsorship (CoS)?
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
4b. From obtaining the CoSs how long did it take for SWs to obtain visas?
To provide this information may identify the social worker. This would risk a disclosure of their personal information and would be a breach of the first data protection principle. This information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
4c. Did a Manager from your organisation “meet and greet” SWs upon arrival? If not, who did?
DCC had representatives from across children’s social care contribute towards this activity as staff arriving at different times.
4d. Please provide a copy of the relocation package that applied to international SWs.
DCC do not have a specific relocation package for international social workers
4e. Focusing on immigration but not exclusively so, what lessons have been learnt that could inform a more efficient and effective approach to international social worker recruitment in the future?
DCC do not hold this information.
5. Is international social worker recruitment likely to be on your agenda within the foreseeable future?
Yes
5a. Why is it considered necessary to consider international recruitment?
DCC do not hold this information
5b. How many SWs do you have in mind? Any thoughts on source country(ies) and level of experience?
In the future, DCC will have the opportunity to sponsor 15 social workers per year. DCC are not targeting specific countries, it will be a generic advert. Ideally we would have applicants of senior social worker level within their own country joining us, this would translate to a minimum of 3 years post qualifying experience in equivalent statutory type roles e.g working with vulnerable children and families who are at great need and risk of harm.
5c. Is this likely to be done in-house; by using a consultant; outsourcing to an agency?
In house
5d. Will you limit yourselves to SWs who are already SWE-registered or will you consider those who have registration in process or those who have yet to commence their application?
DCC will consider those with registration in process and those yet to commence their application
5e. Will you consider Sws who are required by SWE to pass an English language test but have yet to take one or have failed an initial attempt? Will you reimburse this and other registration costs?
DCC do not hold this information.
6. If you have a policy concerning meeting professional registration costs (which may be corporate) please send a copy.
N/A