This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
A major campaign launched by Isle of Wight Council to recruit social workers to fill a shortage has been successful.
In July, the council placed advertisements in professional publications, on social media and in London and local newspapers. It also produced three videos posted on its YouTube channel featuring interviews with existing social workers who talk about working on the Isle of Wight and commuting from the Mainland.
Campaign follows Inadequate Ofsted report
The recruitment campaign is part of the plan agreed to improve child protection following last year’s Ofsted report that found the service here to be inadequate.
In total, over 30 people applied for the social worker positions and since then, interviews have taken place and five vacant positions have been filled.
Priest: “A fantastic result”
Richard Priest, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member responsible for children’s services said:
“Social workers play a vital role in the community and for too long the council has struggled to fill vacant positions, instead relying on agency staff to work alongside our permanent social workers.
“We are not the only council to have these problems so to fill five vacant positions with full time staff following the recruitment campaign is a fantastic result.
“It will also save the council money in the long term, money which can be used to benefit children’s services in future, as we will not have to pay agency fees on top of social worker salaries.”
