Seven experienced social workers from the United States are heading to Swansea to help protect and support vulnerable children across the city.
It’s the latest recruitment success by Swansea Council which has gone global in its search for quality staff to boost child and family services.
The qualified and experienced staff from the USA impressed in interview with their passion for the work and their enthusiasm for making a difference in Swansea.
They are due to arrive in the late summer and follow the recruitment of 14 newly-qualified UK workers and seven more from Europe.
Nick Tregoning, Cabinet Member for Social Services, said: “There is a national shortage of social workers across councils in Wales and England.
“Here at Swansea Council we have decided to tackle that issue head-on and having recruited excellent candidates from the UK and Europe we have widened the search to meet our immediate needs.
“By investing in recruitment, training and additional posts we hope to be better placed to tackle issues around increased demand for support and protection for children and their families.
“The fact that people are willing to uproot themselves and travel thousands of miles to Swansea is recognition of the fact that we have a developing, forward-looking social services, with sound support and training in place, all in an attractive location.”
Swansea’s social worker recruitment campaign has been a direct response to address the need for more social workers to meet increasing demand.
The extra staff will not only improve services by reducing the pressures on existing teams, but also together bring a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to drive services forward for years to come.
The aim is to make the service more proactive to prevent children coming into care and better placed to react to quickly to and provide appropriate support for children in need or at risk.
Femi Sodeinde, who is originally from Nigeria, has recently joined the Council’s looked after children team.
Coming from a big family, he has always felt driven to help people in need. He said: “There are many differences between Nigeria and the UK, but we have a common goal to help these children and give them a better life. I am looking forward to bringing my experience to Swansea and learning from the services here, but most of all I just want to help the children where I can.”
