The Charles Hunter Associates team was enlisted to support our client with hiring two Social Workers and a Senior Social Worker in Wales, Yorkshire and East Midlands. Acting on our client’s strict requirements, we searched for and fielded candidates with proven experience in social work and assessments.

This project was more singular than a typical social worker recruitment brief. The social workers we sought had to be familiar with
particular communities and the unique needs of vulnerable individuals and families within these communities.

• Candidates were required to have an adequate understanding of the social, economic, and health-related challenges faced by individuals and families from these communities. Social workers with this knowledge are underrepresented in the current UK social services workforce, and the rarity of this skillset necessitated us to use all possible routes to identify suitable workers.
• Less competitive pay was on offer relative to Local Authorities, locum social workers, and other private organisations. This presented a barrier to attracting qualified talent to these positions. However, we tackled this obstacle head-on by highlighting the unique opportunities and intrinsic rewards that these specialised roles offer beyond salary.
• These positions were often situated in remote or less accessible areas, making recruitment efforts more difficult. However, we leveraged our extensive network and expertise in social work recruitment to reach candidates who were open to relocation or commuting longer distances. Additionally, we collaborated closely with clients to offer flexible working arrangements where possible, further enhancing the attractiveness of these positions.
• The small team sizes posed a challenge in terms of limited progression opportunities for potential candidates. Recognising this concern, we worked closely with clients to develop clear career pathways and professional development plans to incentivise candidates.
• The presence of multiple recruitment agencies competing for the same pool of candidates presented another hurdle. However, Charles Hunter Associate’s proven social work sector experience, industry recognition and credentials enabled us to attract candidates from a broader pool of talent. We highlighted the distinct benefits and rewards associated with working in these community-based settings, emphasising the chance to break away from the traditional Local Authority environments.