Our workforce planning takes account of the challenges we face and we work with partners to develop creative plans for attracting, developing and retaining the skills and talent we need. We aim to create a supportive working environment that empowers staff and we have a wide range of learning and development opportunities available for all roles and grades.
As at March 2024 we employed 1,260 staff (excluding casual workers) in the Adults and Health directorate across a range of disciplines, of whom 247 were social workers and 149 in occupational therapy. All qualified social workers are required to register as individual practitioners with Social Work England and occupational therapists with the Health and Care Professions Council.
The national Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) is a 12-month employer-led programme of support and assessment for newly qualified social workers. It supports them to strengthen their learning and to develop their skills and professional confidence in an employment environment. Although it is not a requirement for registration with Social Work England, social workers need to successfully complete the programme in order to continue to be employed as registered social workers for the county council.
Adults’ Services works in partnership with the University of Chichester to support the development of newly qualified social workers during their ASYE. 17 newly qualified social workers commenced their ASYE during 2022-23 and all but one who left the organisation, successfully completed the programme in September 2023. In 2023-24 we had a further 16 newly qualified social workers start the programme.
We support student social workers on placement from university and additional placements to our internally sponsored apprentices. We have been supporting our own employees to complete their social work degree apprenticeships since the programme began just over four years ago and in 2023-24 had a total of five apprentices in training across the three-year course.
Our recruitment and retention of staff remains strong, with 100 occupational therapists (OTs) and 49 occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) supporting adults and children living in West Sussex. We support our staff with comprehensive internal and external training and development opportunities that maintain excellence in practice and career progression.
We support and encourage our OTAs to evidence their practice by undertaking a ‘progression portfolio’ reflecting their professional competency. Over the last year, four achieved their progression module.
The occupational therapist Early Practice Framework provides structured support for newly qualified occupational therapists to demonstrate safe and effective practice and professional development. The framework is a locally-devised assessment pathway and whilst it is not a requirement for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council, OTs need to successfully complete the pathway in order to progress to the next grade. Nine OTs completed their framework progression portfolio over the year.
Following the framework progression, OTs complete the Developing Professional Practice module at the University of Chichester. This is part of the senior OT assessment which provides external scrutiny and validation of practice. Seven OTs progressed from newly qualified to senior grade practitioner over the last year.
We also work in partnership with the University of Brighton to enable non-registered staff to undertake the Occupational Therapy Degree Apprenticeship. Eight have completed the training over the past five years and continue to work as OTs in West Sussex, with full retention to date.
Adults’ Services began an international recruitment project in early 2022. Initially using national workforce grant funding to support a pilot project, we worked in partnership with a recruitment agency to secure 10 social workers from across the world. We followed the International Recruitment Framework and do not accept applicants from developing countries.
The phase 1 recruits arrived during summer 2022 and were from a total of six different countries, including Canada, the Caribbean, Africa and India. They have all settled and are seen as an integral part of the services they joined.
Due to the success of the pilot, we rolled out a wider programme and have appointed a total of 32 social workers and eight occupational therapists from nine countries.
We developed an Induction and Competency Programme which includes a progression process, a Buddy scheme, information packs, internal and external training, a furniture donation scheme, and regular face-to-face workshops for the recruits and their managers. Recruits are also given emotional and practical support that enables them to make new friends and integrate into local communities.
This has been an incredibly positive project and mutually beneficial for the individual recruits as well as the council. It has resulted in a more diverse workforce and encourages a learning culture whereby our existing staff are able to develop knowledge of social work and occupational therapy practice from across the world.
"...the efforts made by WSCC to create a nurturing environment have been nothing short of remarkable. They have fostered a sense of belonging, ensuring that we felt seen, heard, and valued.
“The unwavering support from the seniors and colleagues assured me of a bright future, which I can confidently say, I am starting to experience. .. ……“Thank you”.
In April 2024 we held our second annual staff conference to celebrate our achievements and to set out our aims and objectives for the coming year and beyond. The event had a strong focus on working collaboratively as one overarching service and on how we develop and support the workforce as we move forward together.
The keynote speaker, Sanchita Hosali, British Institute of Human Rights, delivered a practical introduction to the Human Rights Act for adult social care.
