UNISON slams the Royal Borough after social workers desert the council

A UNION has claimed the council is struggling to keep social workers after it was revealed there was almost a 50% increase in the amount of agency staff employed in two key departments.

The Royal Borough branch of UNISON submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request which revealed the number of agency workers operating in the council’s children’s and adult and community services rose by around 48% compared to last year.

Between February and April this year, a total of 66 agency workers were employed in the Royal Borough’s adult and community services department compared to 47 in the same period in 2012.

In the children’s services department, the number rose from 46 to 69.

The council confirmed, in the safeguarding and specialist services department – where social workers are based – the number of agency workers leapt from two in April 2012 to 12 in April 2013.

A UNISON spokeswoman said: “An enormous amount of work was done a few years ago to create a permanent, professional work force to deal with social work issues.

“Unfortunately, the changes to pay and conditions have disrupted this and many staff have moved on to get more pay elsewhere.”

The Royal Borough moved away from nationally-agreed terms and conditions in staggered changes implemented in February and March this year – which both UNISON and GMB protested against, claiming it would have a large financial effect on social workers.

A Royal Borough spokesman said: “While there has been an increase in the use of social work agency staff, his has been due to a number of factors not necessarily related to changes in employee terms and conditions.

“Staff may have moved on for reasons including promotion, retirement or to take a different career path. There is currently a recruitment drive for permanent social worker staff, which will reduce the need for agency workers and ensure more continuity in the workforce.

“The use of agency staff is a normal and accepted way in which the council continues to meet the needs and demands of services for residents.”