SOCIAL work leaders in Scotland are calling on employers to embrace flexible working to tackle an ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

A report published today by the Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) and the Social Workers Union (SWU) shows that the number of social workers working flexibly varies widely from one local authority to another.

The report identifies the challenges facing the profession in Scotland, with 19 per cent of the workforce aged 55 or over, 82 per cent being female and a quarter quitting within six years of qualifying.