It’s National Social Worker Awareness Month and the leader of the province’s largest public sector union says those in the occupation are facing difficulties.
NAPE President Jerry Earl says there are challenges recruiting social workers in some parts of the province.
He was responding to the results of an online survey conducted by the union which showed the majority of social workers say their workloads have increased and describe their jobs as stressful.
Earle says social workers across the province are struggling to deal with “unbearable workloads, massive stress and toxic workplace environments.”
Recruitment and retention of social workers has proven challenging in some areas, despite the fact that most people who choose the profession are passionate about what they do.
The Northern Peninsula still has a large number of vacancies, while St. John’s and Labrador also face challenges when it comes to recruitment.