The Social Work Co-operative Goes Live
4/06/2009
EPL drives the development of a mutual solution to the current recruitment crisis social work
EPL director, Dr Guy Turnbull is a founding director of The Social Work Co-operative a unique social enterprise initiative aimed at reducing the country’s current social worker crisis.Figures revealed earlier this year showed that as many as one in seven social worker posts with local authorities may be vacant, a number that may well be higher in the wake of the Baby P case.
But now a team –including a former social worker -who are experts in working in the social enterprise sector have launched the Social Work Co-Operative which not only supplies high quality, temporary staff to local authorities but also gives social workers themselves an opportunity to benefit from better terms and conditions and support.
The enterprise has been set up by business development director Dr Guy Turnbull, who has worked across the UK as a social economy consultant, social/community enterprise expert Carol Bell and Walter Young, founder and co-director of the highly successful not-for-profit agency, Team Fostering.
The three North East based directors believe their unique model will provide a new level of service and will be able to fill the current gaps in the market along with giving social workers the benefit of feeling part of an organisation where they will get a share of the success.
Mutuality lies at the heart of the co-operative, with social workers, local authorities, children and adult service users all set to benefit.
“What the SWC will offer is completely unique,” said Dr Turnbull.
“Firstly the temporary staff will have a profit share and a minority stake in the enterprise.
“Unlike a typical locum agency, the SWC will offer all temporary workers the opportunity to share in the profits of the business.”
The structure of the organisation means there will be no external shareholders, ensuring higher than usual levels of investment will be made in “support, guidance and supervision systems available to the temporary staff.
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“This is in recognition of the fact that many social workers and care staff work in emotionally demanding and sometimes traumatic situations,” said Dr Turnbull.
The Co-op will be able to offer local authorities skilled and experienced social workers at an affordable price and at the same time all the staff registered with them will become “members” and benefit from profit share, in addition to having a say in how the organisation is run.
The directors are also committed to the organisation being highly ethical, working on the basis of “putting people before profit” which has been an integral part of all of their careers to date.
Once the format has been tested in the North East the plan is establish a social franchising network to roll out a number of similar social work agencies across the UK.
The appeal to local authorities lies in the fact that this scheme will allow them to get a better financial deal and a higher level of service .
“At a time when the shortage of social workers is really reaching crisis point in many areas we believe we have created a unique solution which when launched will benefit everyone,” said Walter.
Any social worker wanting to find out further information is asked to call 0845 313 8452.
The Social Work Co-operative has benefited from financial support from The Social Enterprise Loan Fund, a registered charity set up to help organisations that have a social impact
See www.socialwork.coop for further detail