The effects of child protection social worker turnover on children and families: A scoping review addressing a critical gap in social work turnover research

Abstract

Abstract For children and families engaged with statutory child protection systems, the loss of a social worker is more than a staffing issue; it is often the loss of a trusted relationship in a time of deep vulnerability. This scoping review explores the impact of social worker turnover on children, families, and carers, highlighting how instability in the workforce undermines the very relationships intended to support safety, placement stability, and permanency. Drawing on eleven studies published over the past four decades, including peer-reviewed studies, grey literature, and commissioned reports, the review finds that turnover contributes to placement disruptions, delays in achieving permanency, and emotional distress among service users. Repeated relational losses through moves, case handovers, and broken attachments compound the trauma many children and families already face. The review also considers how organizational factors, such as team culture, workload, and supervision, can either mitigate or exacerbate these harms. Despite the profound implications for child welfare outcomes, the issue remains under-researched, particularly from the perspective of those receiving services. The review concludes by arguing that social worker retention is not merely a matter of organizational efficiency, but a cornerstone of ethical, relational, and effective social work practice.

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