Strengthening the Social Service Workforce
Plan, Develop and Support
Failing to strengthen the social service workforce means limiting the effectiveness of programs and wasting valuable resources. A well-planned, developed and supported workforce is better able to address the needs and enhance the resources and resilience of at-risk populations.
Our Social Service Workforce Strengthening Framework has been reviewed, adapted and utilized around the world as the key framework to guide workforce strengthening efforts. It outlines three core strategies for strengthening the social service workforce—planning, developing and supporting the workforce.
Find more information on the three elements and supplemental Alliance resources to support each element below.
Click here to access the framework.
Planning the Workforce
Strategic approaches to plan the social service workforce must be taken to ensure the adequate provision of resources and skilled personnel. Key activities to plan the social service workforce include:
- Carrying out assessments to identify human resource gaps;
- Improving recruitment, hiring, and deployment practices and systems; and
- Advocating for political will, legislative frameworks and resource allocation to strengthen and support the social service workforce.
Developing the Workforce
The social service workforce must be developed to foster expertise, professionalism and adaptability. Key activities to develop the social service workforce include:
- Designing pre-service education and in-service training programs that are aligned with needs identified by workforce assessments;
- Ensuring curricula incorporate local/indigenous knowledge as well as international best practices;
- Strengthening faculty and teaching methods; and
- Providing a broad range of in-service professional development opportunities for workers.
Supporting the Workforce
To increase the incentive for individuals to join the social service workforce and to retain and ensure the quality of the current social service workforce ongoing support is essential. Key activities to support the social service workforce include:
- Developing or strengthening systems to improve and sustain worker performance;
- Developing tools, resources and initiatives to improve job satisfaction and retention; and
- Supporting professional associations in their efforts to enhance the professional growth and development of the workforce.
