Social Workers worth their weight in gold but Walsall pay peanuts

The following notice of motion is down for full Council to debate Monday 10th January
To consider the following motion, notice of which has been duly given by


Councillors Robertson, Burley, Wilkes, Oliver, Chambers, Westley and Cassidy:

"This Council notes with concern the vast sums of money spent on agency social

workers within children's specialist services - just under £3.8m over the last 3

years.

With a substantial reduction in spending in mind, coupled with the need to

provide ever more efficient specialist services to our most vulnerable children

and young people, this council resolves to urgently address this waste of tax

payers money by;

· Agreeing to increase the levels of pay of social workers in Walsall to

match that of our neighbours in the rest of the West Midlands and

Staffordshire as they are currently 30% less that Staffs County Council

and the second lowest in the black country and 

· ensuring that current recruitment and retention processes are thoroughly

reviewed as a matter of urgency to see where they can be improved.
 
I note that we are now trying to redress the balance and for that I am pleased. A sense of fairness … the fact that restocking the shelves of a supermarket can command a higher wage than some very difficult social care jobs carrying a lot of responsibility and any errors potentially very serious.


I do believe that job choice has a Lot of other influences besides money although it is of course very important as bills, mortgages etc have to be paid… but working conditions atmosphere, support by colleagues, team working, access to good schools, health care, leisure facilities, open spaces and other entertainments do have some influence. Support to help in moving and advice etc is also very welcoming to any potential employee. Opportunities for improving oneself , getting more qualifications and training… despite of course the fact that if they do get more on their CV they might start looking around for another higher paid job.. especially if the job structure in an organisation does not allow for suitable promotion.
Hopefully we shall recruit the best possible candidates for this vital part of the work of this Council.. we have not recruited a new senior social worker here in walsall for over 3 years. We have been lucky in having to often have over 40 agency staff at a time covering the gaps that we have not had a serious incident.