Social workers and children in care (FOI)

Request

Please can you provide me with the following information:

A

How many children are in social care and are being supported by the States?

B

How many social workers do you have working in this sector currently?

C

Are you training or recruiting for more workers?

D

What is the current budget for children and social services?

E

How does the proposed Government Plan impact on current provision for children and social services?

Response

A

482 children and young people are currently being supported by Children’s Social Care in Jersey.

B

There are currently 75 social work qualified post holders working in a range of roles across the service.

C

Yes, we have a number of internal colleagues who are in varying stages of their Social Work degree who will become qualified social workers once they have completed their studies.

We have a cohort of individuals currently undergoing the Social Work degree course at Highlands college who are expected to complete their studies in 2022.

We are currently developing phase two of the ‘Let’s Be Honest’ recruitment campaign to recruit more social workers.

D

The 2020 Children’s Service budget is £22,856,190.

E

There is no reduced or negative impact on the provision of services for children in the proposed Government Plan.