Workforce development: proactively addressing recruitment and retention challenges in a paediatric social work setting.
Sarah Connolly1, Jennifer Burn11Royal Children’s Hospital Social Work Department, Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Abstract
Hospital social workers represent 18% of Victoria’s estimated 5100 social workers. (1)
Workforce shortages across health social work have emphasised the need for strategic workforce planning- to continue to attract, develop and retain a suitably credentialled workforce of paediatric social workers. In 2021/22, this need came into sharp focus in a highly competitive external environment with an acute shortage of social workers nationally, exacerbated by reduced supply of international applicants. Anecdotal reports of social workers leaving health for other sectors due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (2), burnout, particular family violence and mental health concerns, lack of parity of remuneration with NDIA and student placement shortages.
To proactively invest in the social work workforce, a dedicated Workforce Development Manager role was created at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne with a focus on recruitment, orientation, staff development and informing workforce strategy.
This paper will outline the key strengths and future opportunities of this model, from the perspective of a major Victorian quaternary paediatric hospital.
This engaging ‘lightning talk’ will be of interest to allied health managers interested in workforce development.
References
1.Victorian Dept of Health and Human Services (2018) Victorian Allied Health Workforce Research Program Social Work Workforce Report
social-work-workforce-report.pdf (health.vic.gov.au)
2.‘Paediatric social work during COVID-19: The Melbourne experience’ (2020) Australian Association of Social Workers Social Work Focus.
Biography
Sarah Connolly has been Manager of Social Work at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital since 2014, and Director of Allied Health since late 2022. Sarah holds post graduate degrees in social work and human services management and is passionate about workforce development, staff support and delivering excellent clinical care through investing in people.
Jennifer Burn is a senior social worker with extensive clinical experience in adult and paediatric health. Jennifer holds a Masters of Advanced Social Work Practice from the University of Melbourne, has held roles as Student Unit Coordinator and Academic Tutor before establishing a Workforce Development role in 2022.