Supporting and retaining social workers
By: Communications
A new approach to supporting and retaining social workers, based on UEA research, will be trialled across Northern Ireland.
The theory of change is based on research by Dr Laura L. Cook, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work. It provides a blueprint for local authority workforce development, guidance and reflective tools for practitioners and sets out the necessary conditions for successfully embedding the model within organisations.
The Department of Health (DoH) in Northern Ireland said the research findings resonated with social work leaders in the country and fitted with its work to improve practitioner wellbeing and retention, resulting in the forthcoming pilot of the theory of change.
The project, a collaboration between the DoH, the five health and social care trusts and Queen’s University Belfast, will focus on strengthening professional identity, improving wellbeing and retention, and supporting experienced, mid-to-late career social workers in their roles.
Each trust will pilot a key recommendation from the theory of change, including: developing the team as a secure base, legacy mentoring, providing a space for team leaders to reflect on their own professional identity, as well as supporting the professional identity of those they manage, and promoting specialisms as part of a social work career pathways.
The project will commence in September 2025 and will be evaluated by Prof Davy Hayes at Queen’s University, Belfast.
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