Social workers suffering stress and anxiety

Social workers suffering stress and anxiety

One in five of the country's 76,000 social workers has signed off work for 20 consecutive days or more in the past five years because of conditions such as stress or anxiety.

Research carried out by the Conservative party, using figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from local authorities across England, show that as many as 15,550 social workers took long-term sick leave. The rate is one of the highest for any profession and double that of teachers. Meanwhile, stress-related claims by social workers cost the taxpayer £13m last year.

Social workers buckling under stress burden (The Observer, 15 June 2008)