National Workload Action Group
Research in Practice is supporting the delivery of a National Workload Action Group (NWAG).
Research in Practice is supporting the delivery of a National Workload Action Group (NWAG) that has been set up as part of the government’s commitment to ensure a strong children’s social care workforce where social workers are supported and valued.
Stable Homes, Built on Love identified the need to improve retention rates across the country and reduce unnecessary workload pressures, so that social workers can spend more time building relationships with children and families.
The NWAG will develop recommendations and solutions on reducing unnecessary workload drivers for child and family social workers. This will include co-developing and testing new resources with practitioners, managers, and leaders as part of a consortium led by Essex County Council.
Issues of workload and time for direct practice have been ongoing for many years, for reasons both complex and endemic. NWAG will explore evidence of key drivers, such as issues around retention and the influence of bureaucracy and case recording.
Along with acting as the NWAG Secretariat, Research in Practice is the Lead Delivery Partner on social work retention and agency resources. This work will include:
- Developing ways to support the Social Worker Employer Standards Health Check.
- Meeting the new requirements around the engagement of agency social workers.
Membership of the NWAG
| Maris Stratulis | National Director BASW England | BASW |
| Dr Janet Melville-Wiseman | Principal Lecturer and Chair of Joint University Council | University Council Canterbury Christ Church University |
| Roisin Murphy | Director of Children's Social Care, Croydon | Croydon Council |
| Andy Smith | Strategic Director of Peoples Services | Derby City Council |
| Chloe McSweeney | Head of Operational Systems & Development | Essex County Council |
| Paul McGee | Principal Social Worker and Co-chair of Children's Principal Social Worker Network | Essex County Council |
| Robert Tyrrell | Principal Social Worker and Co-chair of Children's Principal Social Worker Network | Gloucestershire County Council |
| Amy Walker | Digital CMS Project Lead | Leeds City Council |
| Teresa Hills | Head of Family Support/Safeguarding, Children with Disabilities, SWIS & Workforce Development | Merton Council |
| Jansy Kelly | Deputy Director, Social Care and Regulatory Practice | Ofsted |
| Clare Poyner | Principal Social Worker and Designated Social Care Officer and Co-chair of Children's Principal Social Worker Network | Portsmouth City Council |
| Amy Soar | Head of Policy | Social Work England |
| Chris Ring | Head of Children and Children and Families Social Care | South Tyneside Council |
| Shelley Leo | Service Manager | Sutton Council |
|
Gill Archer |
National officer for local government |
Unison |
| Kerie Anne |
Chair of UNISON’s National Social Care Forum |
Unison |
| Simone White | Director Children's Services | Wirral Council |
| Suzanne Joyner | Strategic Director Children and Young People | Yorkshire & Humber Region |