Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the spread of the omicron variant of covid-19, what (a) assessment he has made of trends in the level of staff sickness in children’s social care and (b) steps is he taking to support those providers.

Supporting local authorities to ensure that vulnerable children remain protected is a top priority for the government. The department collects regular data about local authority children’s services staff and residential care workers in relation to staff sickness. The most recent data is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vulnerable-children-and-young-people-survey.

The department does not yet have workforce data covering the period in which the Omicron variant became established in the country. The department is currently collecting this data.

In addition to data collection and direct communication with local authorities and residential providers, we are in regular contact with the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and other stakeholders to monitor workforce risks, including trends in the level of staff sickness, and discuss what support the department can provide.

We recognise that the Omicron variant could put the workforce under pressure for a short time. While Ofsted will continue inspection of local authority children’s services and local area special educational needs or disabilities provision, local authorities are able to request a deferral for the small number of inspections scheduled to take place in January.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has written to all local authority chief executives and directors of children’s services to reiterate the department’s commitment to supporting children’s services, including using our communications channels to encourage qualified social workers and other professionals who are currently out of the profession to sign up with agencies in their local areas in order to boost supply capacity.