PROJECT DETAILS

Flexitime for Social Workers

This pilot project aims to understand how a flexible working model of compressed hours could be effectively implemented for Local Authorities, and to generate evidence of promise that it might be effective in improving social workers’ work-life balance, autonomy and productivity.

Status

Pilot / In progress

Estimated completion

November 2021

Focus areas

Professionals

Key Figures

Local authorities 2
Sample size 30 to 40

This document outlines the pilot evaluation of a flexible working model for social workers as part of the Happier Healthier Professionals (HHP) programme. The ‘flexitime’ model allows staff to compress their contracted working hours into fewer days, so that they work either a 4-day week or a 9-day fortnight. Two local authorities are included in this evaluation. In Stockport, a flexible working policy with clear processes is long-established, and the offer is taken up extensively by staff with many choosing to work 4-day weeks or 9-day fortnights. In Croydon, the policy is to be newly introduced in three teams in Children’s Services. The pilot aims to understand both how flexitime can be effectively implemented for Local Authorities, and to generate evidence of promise that it might be effective in improving social workers’ work-life balance, autonomy and productivity.