To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average length of service for children's social workers; and what was that average in each of the past 12 years. [HL1267]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the rate of retention for children's social workers; and how this compares with other public bodies including (a) the police, (b) adult social carers, and (c) civil servants in government departments. [HL1268]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the figures for absenteeism for children's social workers (a) nationally, (b) for each region and (c) for each local authority. [HL1269]

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children's social worker places are currently vacant; how many have remained vacant for a period of (a) three months, (b) six months, and (c) longer; and how this breaks down on a regional basis. [HL1271]

Social workers are directly employed by local authorities and other organisations. The Department for Children, Schools and Families does not centrally collect information on social worker length of service, retention rate, absenteeism or vacancy rate.

In the Children's, Young People's and Families' Social Care Workforce Survey 2006, a survey of 88 local authorities, the Local Authority Workforce Intelligence Group (LAWIG), estimated that the turnover rate for children’s and families' social workers was 9.6 per cent down from 11 per cent the previous year. LAWIG estimated that 2 per cent of the overall workforce left social work all together, either to retire or to move on to another destination.

LAWIG also estimated vacancy rates for children's social workers to be 9.5 per cent, down from 11.8 per cent the previous year.

The regional breakdown was as follows:

The Children's, Young People's and Families' Social Care Workforce Survey 2006 can be found at www.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/1098172.