We’re an organisation driven by passionate and professional social workers
World Social Work Month is an annual event that takes place in March to raise awareness about the vitally important role that Social Workers play in improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities around the world.
The theme of World Social Work Month varies each year, but its focus is always centred on the contribution of Social Workers to society and the challenges they face in work.
At every level of The Children’s Family Trust our highly skilled and passionate Social Workers develop close professional relationships with foster families thus enabling honest, trust-worthy conversations about how to best further our service for the betterment of the children and young people we are responsible.
Understanding the role
Having social work at the heart of a fostering organisation means having a top to bottom understanding of how to make the most of a social work schedule with the ultimate aim of improving the lives of our foster carers and children. Having a clear understanding of the demands and challenges faced by our Social Work team is key to avoiding potential ‘burnout’ for staff.
All Social Workers enter the profession wanting to provide the same, high-quality care to children and families in need across the UK. Sadly many cannot. Nationally Social Workers only too often suffer under the weight of excessive caseloads and a lack of resources. We highlight it frequently in our posts online, that over-stretched Social Worker’s do not equate to quality care. Fostering services aren’t only suffering a crisis in Foster Carer recruitment, but maintaining our workforce is critical in ensuring our families and children experience a positive and consistent relationship with the ‘same’ Social Worke
Committed to change
We’re taking huge strides to combat this by trialling a 4-day working week for all employees at The CFT for the next 6 months. Instead of prescribing a routine of simply ‘filling’ days with work, we want our teams to think critically about their responsibilities and with adequate support from Registered Managers, Administrators and the wider employee network, our Social Workers can enjoy real flexibility that suits them, their families and the Carers they support so well.
The CFT are committed to leading the way in best practice not only for our employees but in our excellent service delivery to our Foster Families. We believe that making fundamental changes to our work schedule will not only improve employee retention, but will provide Foster Families with a support network energised by their working environment.
We’ll be expanding on the big changes happening at The CFT in the coming weeks and months.
But if you’d like to get in touch contact us
