The number of vacancies in local authority departments for field social workers with children was 3,267 and for other field social workers 2,534, in 2005.
Social workers are also employed by CAFCASS and other organisations in the private and voluntary sector, but vacancy figures are not collected centrally.
A review of workforce issues—including recruitment and retention—entitled ‘Options for Excellence’ was published in October 2006 jointly by DfES and Department of Health.