WSCC have been experiencing significant recruitment and retention issues for registered social workers, within adult social care; this is a similar picture across the country and has been getting continually worse since Covid. Unfortunately this applies equally to permanent and locum recruitment

In a moment of desperation, I put out a plea to recruiters on Linked in and asked agencies to get in touch if they could help fill our gaps. The only person who responded was Dan Halls (on behalf of Tripod). The lack of response is an indication of how bad the workforce situation is. Dan made contact and we arranged a call to discuss international recruitment and how Tripod may be able to assist WSCC

International recruitment wasn’t something that WSCC had previously considered and the dept were initially reluctant to consider. However having spoken to Dan, read through the Tripod documentation, I reflected to the Leadership team that in the absence of other recruitment options and based on the very high cost and poor quality of locum staff, I would like to take the opportunity to test a new approach

A business case was drafted, which highlighted the savings (locum vs international recruitment over an initial 3-yr period), the benefit to the Council (increased diversity, different knowledge and experience and a strength based approach within the workforce) and the paucity of national workforce, it was agreed in Jan 22, that we would proceed.

We commenced with a detailed project in mid Feb 22 and had a timescale to deliver offers of employment to international candidates by end of March 22. We wanted to have a very wide remit for recruitment, so didn’t limit to one particular country. Due to that, we chose to recruit virtually, using a 3-stage approach, rather than an “in-country” event. We held a brief weekly project meeting (half hour), with reps from HR, operational managers, transport, PSW. Managers took the lead on aspects of the project – community integration, Buddy system, training programme and pay and progression arrangements. Dan and Liza were part of the group and we worked in partnership throughout

We outlined our requirements to Tripod ie social work qualified, experience with adults (mental health, hospitals, community or learning disabilities), ability to register with SWE, car driver, able to relocate to West Sussex and Tripod passed relevant CVs to the Council.

The CVs were accompanied with composite videos provided by each individual and collated by Tripod and the Council officers undertook the first cut screening, with feedback to Liza.

The Council then drafted a written exercise as the second stage, and we utilised Tripod’s electronic system to enable candidates to respond. These written submissions were reviewed by Council officers, which constituted the second screening.

Finally, the selected candidates were interviewed over Teams, by a range of Council managers. We have recruited from Jamaica, Trinidad, Canada, India and South Africa

We then matched the successful candidates to vacancies and began the relocation process

Tripod reps organised the collation of employment documents, co-ordinated the SWE registration process, arranged meetings with candidates, provided additional CVs when a couple of candidates dropped out (so we were able to cover the gaps), arranged flights, short and long term accommodation, maintained contact with candidates after arrival to offer emotional support and troubleshooting.

Dan and/or Liza attended a weekly meeting with the Council team and it has felt like a partnership throughout, the team found Tripod to be responsive, flexible and had a very good understanding of our needs, in terms of workforce

The recruits have now arrived and we arranged a face to face workshop to welcome them all

WSCC have since commenced a further recruitment project for OTs, this is again with Tripod and we have been very satisfied with the whole process and outcomes, which have been effective, efficient and met our recruitment needs.