Strengthening the Social Welfare Workforce. Investing in those who care for children

Like the health sector, the social service sector struggles with a global crisis within systems of care and support for vulnerable children. This presentation addresses the serious challenges faced by the social workforce within Africa, such as: staffing plans that lack a clearly defined strategy and realistic implementation mechanisms; inadequate education opportunities to meet the demand for social welfare workers; and a quick “burn out” of a struggling workforce facing unmanageable caseloads, low salaries, poor incentives, etc. The presentation includes longer-term global goals aimed at strengthening the social service workforce and achieving more effective and efficient child protection responses.