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Golden handcuffs and hellos: the local authority bidding war for social workers Golden handcuffs and hellos: the local authority bidding war for social workers
(about 17 hours later)
Children and family social workers in West Berkshire are being offered a £15,000 “golden handcuff” if they stay with the council for three years, in just one example of an escalating bidding war for the services of scarce staff.Children and family social workers in West Berkshire are being offered a £15,000 “golden handcuff” if they stay with the council for three years, in just one example of an escalating bidding war for the services of scarce staff.
Nearby Buckinghamshire is paying its first-response team – those working at the “front door” of social work – up to £8,250 extra for every year they remain in post. Up to £5,125 a year more is available in a “golden hello” for newly- qualified staff who join the team.Nearby Buckinghamshire is paying its first-response team – those working at the “front door” of social work – up to £8,250 extra for every year they remain in post. Up to £5,125 a year more is available in a “golden hello” for newly- qualified staff who join the team.
Councils are also turning to expensive agency staff to fill vacancies. And with agencies offering social workers with two years’ post-qualifying experience the potential to earn £60,000-a-year, some believe that recruitment and retention incentives are spiralling out of control.Councils are also turning to expensive agency staff to fill vacancies. And with agencies offering social workers with two years’ post-qualifying experience the potential to earn £60,000-a-year, some believe that recruitment and retention incentives are spiralling out of control.
Related: Leadership in social work: can Firstline be a force for change?Related: Leadership in social work: can Firstline be a force for change?
Alison O’Sullivan, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, admits: “This in no way reflects the amount of money which is affordable.”Alison O’Sullivan, president of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services, admits: “This in no way reflects the amount of money which is affordable.”
Gillian Quinton is managing director for resources at Buckinghamshire county council, with responsibility for recruitment. She says it is going to take government intervention to solve the crisis and she wants ministers to introduce a cap on social worker agency costs in the same way it has done in the NHS.Gillian Quinton is managing director for resources at Buckinghamshire county council, with responsibility for recruitment. She says it is going to take government intervention to solve the crisis and she wants ministers to introduce a cap on social worker agency costs in the same way it has done in the NHS.
“I am not a social worker, I am a human resources specialist and I think it’s reached crisis point,” says Quinton. “We have lost control of our social care workforce.”“I am not a social worker, I am a human resources specialist and I think it’s reached crisis point,” says Quinton. “We have lost control of our social care workforce.”
Since Buckinghamshire increased its financial offer last April – part of a £1.4m recruitment and retention package that runs until the end of this month, which also includes incentives for other social worker posts – it has paid 56 golden hellos and eight golden handcuffs. Vacancy rates have fallen from 25% to 22%.Since Buckinghamshire increased its financial offer last April – part of a £1.4m recruitment and retention package that runs until the end of this month, which also includes incentives for other social worker posts – it has paid 56 golden hellos and eight golden handcuffs. Vacancy rates have fallen from 25% to 22%.
Despite this improvement, Quinton, a former president of the Public Services People Managers’ Association, says it is still not enough: “Our payments are a drop in the ocean. It’s made some difference, but not enough.Despite this improvement, Quinton, a former president of the Public Services People Managers’ Association, says it is still not enough: “Our payments are a drop in the ocean. It’s made some difference, but not enough.
“That is part of the problem – do we keep pushing the payments up? I don’t think so, because it means we are diverting money away from the services we are trying to protect. It’s a moral issue.”“That is part of the problem – do we keep pushing the payments up? I don’t think so, because it means we are diverting money away from the services we are trying to protect. It’s a moral issue.”
For the first time, council chiefs in parts of the UK are signing memoranda of cooperation, setting a local cap on the amount of money they will pay for agency social workers. But the agreements are voluntary, so potentially fragile: a council could walk away if a poor Ofsted inspection report put it under pressure to expand its workforce – at whatever cost.For the first time, council chiefs in parts of the UK are signing memoranda of cooperation, setting a local cap on the amount of money they will pay for agency social workers. But the agreements are voluntary, so potentially fragile: a council could walk away if a poor Ofsted inspection report put it under pressure to expand its workforce – at whatever cost.
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Rachel Wardell is communities director at West Berkshire, responsible for adults’, childrens’ and families’ services. She says that since the council made its £15,000 offer in 2014 – which preceded an “inadequate” Ofsted report in May last year – there has been “less staff churn” and its reliance on agencies has dropped, though it remains at 26% of posts.Rachel Wardell is communities director at West Berkshire, responsible for adults’, childrens’ and families’ services. She says that since the council made its £15,000 offer in 2014 – which preceded an “inadequate” Ofsted report in May last year – there has been “less staff churn” and its reliance on agencies has dropped, though it remains at 26% of posts.
“We were really thoughtful of the offer we made,” says Wardell. “Our social workers were telling us that what they wanted was a stable workforce, and children and their families were telling us that they were seeing too much change in social workers, which is why we opted for the three-year deal.”“We were really thoughtful of the offer we made,” says Wardell. “Our social workers were telling us that what they wanted was a stable workforce, and children and their families were telling us that they were seeing too much change in social workers, which is why we opted for the three-year deal.”
She is unsure whether the government should intervene and cap agency fees: “It will be really interesting to see if they can pull it off in the NHS,” she says. “But if it means that [agency staff] just won’t come and work for you, and you are left with vacancies, then it will be no help to anyone.”She is unsure whether the government should intervene and cap agency fees: “It will be really interesting to see if they can pull it off in the NHS,” she says. “But if it means that [agency staff] just won’t come and work for you, and you are left with vacancies, then it will be no help to anyone.”
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