Retention on paper isn't retention in practice

Supporting Social Care

The workforce is growing. Turnover is falling. On the surface, children's social work retention looks like it's turning a corner — down to 12% in 2025, the lowest on record.

But sector leaders are already warning that this doesn't tell the full story. Caseloads may be falling, but they don't reflect the growing complexity of the work. And sickness absence — a real-time signal of strain on the people still in post — has risen for two years running.

The numbers say the sector is stabilising. The people doing the work are telling a different story. Closing that gap means supporting practitioners directly, in the early years when the risk of leaving is highest — which is exactly where Newberyl focuses.

Source: Department for Education, Children's Social Work Workforce, published March 2026.

How we work with partners

What we bring:
Newberyl is founder-led by a qualified social worker with direct lived experience of the care system. We've recently launched the Early Career Social Work Network, connecting newly qualified and early-career practitioners and giving us direct, ongoing insight into what's actually happening in practice — not just historic survey data.

Our approach is grounded in professional standards and safe practice: content and delivery are shaped around Social Work England's professional standards, with clear attention to safeguarding and data handling throughout everything we build.

Independent Coaching

A growing peer network for newly qualified and early-career professionals, addressing isolation in the highest-risk years for attrition

Practitioner Resilience Programme

Dedicated Independent wellbeing support delivered by qualified practitioners, scoped and resourced to each partnership.

Let's Talk

Reach out to discuss partnerships and support.