Social worker shortage forces UK to recruit in Australia

http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/news/archive/2009/april/14/04.htm

With unemployment soaring past the two million mark, new work opportunities will come as a great relief to the nation's desperate jobseekers.
Offering pay of up to Pfund42,000 and perks such as a final salary pension scheme, Essex County Council are seeking to recruit 50 more social workers.
But unfortunately for Britons seeking fresh employment, the public sector jobs are being advertised in Australia and New Zealand.
Officials say they cannot find enough recruits here, despite unemployment having passed the two million mark.
As well as a final-salary pension scheme, potential candidates are being offered four months of free accommodation, a Pfund3,500 relocation allowance and help to buy a car.
At present, around one in ten social work positions across the country are unfilled while 5,500 are filled by temporary staff.
Last month, an Ofsted report in in the wake of the Baby P scandal revealed that 40 of the 149 councils assessed by the watchdog provided inadequate or the bare minimum of children's services.
Critics said that bringing in foreign workers will not solve the problem.
Ruth Cartwright, of the British Association of Social Workers, said: 'What often happens is social workers come over here to get experience and then want to go back, only filling gaps in the short term.'
She added: 'As we are in a recession one would like to think there are enough social workers, or potential social workers, within Britain.'