Issue - meetings

To scrutinise the current approach to stabilising the children’s social care workforce.

Witnesses:

Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Children and Families

Rachael Wardell, Executive Director – Children, Families and Learning

Catherine Watkins, Assistant Director for South East Quadrant

Anasia Teete, HR People Business Partner

Key points made in the discussion:

1.    The Department for Education (DfE) annual workforce census showed that nationally, social workers quitting their posts annually had risen by 40 per cent in five years. The number of leavers was greater than starters for the first time since the census began in 2017. The Assistant Director observed the Council had benchmarked salaries against neighbouring authorities and found although its base salary was reasonably competitive, its retention package was lower than elsewhere.

2.    The complexity of cases since Covid had worsened retention. Workers moving to agencies was an issue, but people were also leaving the profession, both of which resulted in an increase of caseloads for those remaining. The cost of housing in Surrey had a significant impact and a comprehensive key worker housing scheme was not being offered, meaning many workers commute and have high petrol costs. A Member thought that if the Government made agency working difficult it could lead to more leaving the profession.

3.    A Member remarked on the importance of competitive salaries amid a national staff shortage, when one third of the Council’s social workers were not permanent. A review of foster care pay had resulted in it being aligned with neighbouring authorities, enabled by extra money in the budget, agreed at January 2023 Cabinet. It was suggested the equivalent was required for Surrey’s social workers, a quarter of whom were leaving each year.

4.    It was noted the 2023/24 budget includes £1.6m funding for a retention payment scheme, an apprenticeship scheme and ASYE (Assessed and Supported Year in Employment) training. A Member asked how much was needed for the proposals outlined in the report to Committee. A business case was due to be presented to the CFLL Assurance and Performance Board in April 2023.

5.    The Executive Director remarked that a sufficiency programme was delivering children’s homes in county and the family safeguarding model emphasised keeping children with their birth families whenever safe; these policies contributed to reducing social workers’ workload. 

6.    The Executive Director recognised the importance of creating a non-discriminatory environment and better supporting social workers who encounter discrimination. Many had experienced direct and indirect racism from both colleagues and families they work with. A Council-wide bullying and harassment policy had been approved by the People, Performance and Development Committee.

7.    A Member remarked that the £0.1m budgeted for the apprenticeship scheme funded four apprentices and should be expanded. The HR People Business Manager said there were budgetary constraints.

8.    A Member repeated that children’s social care should be a budgetary priority for the Council as a whole and should allow for virements rather than being constrained to a budget envelope. The Cabinet Member for Education and Lifelong Learning stated the budget had already been set for 2023/24 and had allocated Children’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8