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The expected working life of a social worker

Curtis, Lesley A., Moriarty, Jo, Netten, Ann (2010) The expected working life of a social worker. British Journal of Social Work, 40 (5). pp. 1628-1643. ISSN 0045-3102. (doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcp039) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:20516)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcp039

Abstract

This article reports on an innovative way to measure the expected working life of social workers and social care professionals using a methodology already developed in studies of health care professionals. Previous work has estimated that the expected working life of a doctor is 25 years compared with 15 years for nurses and 28 years for pharmacists. In this work an estimate of the number of years a social worker uses his or her qualification is provided. It appears that at eight years and 13 years, the expected working life of a social worker and social care worker is shorter than these health care professionals and that gender differences are less apparent. It suggests that there is some evidence of exit to other professions and concludes that further research is needed to identify its extent and some of the underlying reasons why this should be the case.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/bjsw/bcp039
Uncontrolled keywords: Social workers, social care professionals, workforce, working lives, recruitment and retention
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Depositing User: R. Bass
Date Deposited: 27 Nov 2009 13:55 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:58 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/20516 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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