Social Work Posts in Ireland - - Survey 2001

Executive Summary

One of the functions of the National Social Work Qualifications Board (NSWQB) is to conduct research to inform labour force planning. The first nationwide survey on the number of social work posts in Ireland was conducted in 1999 (read summary report).

The present report is the result of the second survey, conducted in 2001. Both surveys were conducted on 1 September in order to provide a foundation for comparisons.

Some of the main findings of the 2001 survey are:

There are 1992.65 (WTE) social work posts in the country.
Of the total number of posts, 16.4 per cent are filled by temporary contract.
The expansion of social work posts in child and family work continues. Increases are also seen in adult psychiatry, probation and welfare and to a lesser extent social work with ageing and older people.
Health boards are the largest employers of social workers with over half of all posts.
Almost half of all posts are located in the Eastern region which also has the highest number of social workers relative to population.
The vast majority of social workers are professionally qualified.
There are 181 newly qualified social workers.
There are 162 social workers with non-national qualifications.
There are 97 social workers who have qualified in Northern Ireland.
There are 307.83 vacant posts, which represents a 15.4 per cent vacancy rate. Health boards have a particularly high vacancy rate.
The annual turnover rate is 18.1 per cent. A total of 362 social workers left their posts in the year leading up to 1 September 2001, the majority in order to take up another social work post or a secondment to another Irish agency.
Large employers like health boards are especially likely to report considerable recruitment difficulties.

Other notable areas include:

The age profile of the social work labour force appears to be similar to the Irish average, with the largest age group being that of 26-35 in tandem with a low retirement frequency.
There is a gender imbalance (female dominance) in the social work labour force, alongside a relatively larger proportion of male social workers in management grades.

The study shows Irish social work as a growing profession, with the likelihood of continued future expansion. Demography is a possible driving force as are heightened public expectations in relation to quality-of-life issues such as health and social service provision.

At the same time, a gaps analysis reveals a discrepancy between number of posts and number of available social workers. The relatively large proportion of non-nationally qualified staff in the workforce also suggests that national graduate production is unable to fill the gaps. The average turnover rate implies a significant level of movement of social workers from post to post.

Some suggestions and recommendations which would contribute to a resolution are made in the report, including:

Continuing to increase the intake to social work courses
Securing practice placements for social work students
Promoting interest in social work as a career
Supporting measures to retain social work staff
Co-ordinating labour force planning initiatives
Monitoring North - South mobility
Conducting further research.

To obtain a printed copy of the full pilot survey 'Social Work Posts in Ireland' please contact us.

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