Social work teams to stage strike over salary grades and working arrangements

Staff in social work teams are to stage a four-day strike in a dispute over salary grades and working arrangements.

Around 200 social care support officers and hearing impairment officers employed by Lancashire County Council will walk out on Friday.

The staff, members of Unison, conduct social care assessments for adults, and arrange and review care packages for people with additional needs.

Unison said social worker shortages country-wide and increasing demand mean their role has expanded over the past decade.

Unison’s North West regional organiser James Rupa said: “Over the years, Lancashire County Council (pictured) has relied on dedicated and hardworking social care support officers to go above and beyond their pay grade to provide key services to people across the county.

“The council has exploited their skills, experience and goodwill, essentially getting them to provide care on the cheap.

“Exhausted staff are leaving their jobs in search of better-paid work elsewhere.

“Their colleagues that remain in post feel they’ve no option but to take action.”

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