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SOCIAL SERVICES,
HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE – 4 MARCH 2003 PROGRESS REPORT
FROM THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION TASK GROUP REPORT OF THE
TASK GROUP CHAIRMAN |
REASON
FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
To update Members on progress made by the Recruitment & Retention Task Group established by the Social Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee in December 2001.
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ACTION REQUIRED BY THE
SELECT COMMITTEE That the Select Committee: Note the report Invite the Task Group to continue with a view to monitoring the position and progressing the Recruitment & Retention strategy |
2. BACKGROUND
Following a report being presented to the Social
Services, Housing and Benefits Select Committee in December 2001, an Officer
and Member Task Group was established to address the recruitment and retention
difficulties being encountered in Children’s Services. Its remit was to
consider the issues and report back to Committee at regular intervals.
The Task Group commenced work in February 2002 and
has convened on a monthly basis since then.
Member representation has included the Portfolio Holder for Social
Services & Housing together with the Chair, Vice-Chair and an additional
Member of the Social Services & Housing Select Committee. Officer representation
has included senior officers and staff together with Personnel Services input.
In a report
to Select Committee in October 2002. The Task Group recommended a strategy to
address specific recruitment and retention difficulties in Children’s Services
and identified a number of key principles underpinning the proposed strategy:
·
Valuing
staff as a significant resource within the Authority
·
Having
a clear and flexible approach to recruitment
·
Developing
a diverse and representative workforce
·
Promoting
and improving the image of the Authority
·
Reviewing
and monitoring the recruitment/retention package
·
Supporting
training and ‘growing our own’ social work staff
·
A
strong focus on retention
3. PROGRESS TO DATE:
3.1
Recruitment Issues
In the October 2002 report the Task Group reported that Children’s Services had experienced ongoing difficulty in attracting applications from social workers and experienced childcare managers over the past two years. It is also the case that staff
retention has been affected by more attractive opportunities outside the authority or on the mainland. The vacancy rate for qualified social work staff, at the time of writing is 24%.
In January 2003 a revised national advertisement was placed Community Care for Social Workers to join our newly structured Division, with a financial enhancement for successful applicants. Eleven applications have been received from both internal and external candidates for ten and a half social work posts. Members will be appraised, verbally, at Select Committee of the outcome of interviews scheduled for 21st February.
With respect to these interviews and the success of applicants that are newly qualified we will consider offering a starting salary on Level 2 as opposed to our usual practice of Level 1. It was reported last time that a large range of authorities appoint newly qualified staff on Level 2 Grade and that the current starting salary is therefore uncompetitive.
In October 2002 we recruited a social worker through an agency, from New Zealand. Since our last report we have successfully recruited internally for Senior Practitioners, Deputising Team Managers and Specialist post positions. During this period 2 workers have left us with a further 2 requesting relocation to less stressful posts.
3.2 Market Supplement growth bid
In establishing budget priorities for 2003/2004 a growth bid for £94K has been supported by the Council to enable a £1,200 market supplement payment for the recruitment/retention of childcare social workers. In addition a post-qualifying increment for staff is being awarded to staff that successfully complete national training requirements funded from base budget.
3.3
Bursary / Sponsorship Schemes
Work is in progress in conjunction with the Learning Centre with regard to bursary schemes with local regional Universities / Colleges. The Group has devised a letter of sponsorship to be sent out to Island students considering social work courses.
3.4 Secondments - “growing our own”
We are continuing the secondment options for unqualified non social work staff wishing to undertake professional training. We sponsored two places in 2001/02, and four in 2003/04 (2 for Children’s Services and 2 for Adult Services These students are currently half way through their training. The next opportunity for selecting candidates is in April for the September in-take.
4. WORK OUTSTANDING:
There are two recommendations outstanding from the October report:
o Increasing the re-location allowance from between £2,500 and £5,000 to £8,000 for new staff moving to the Island. It was reported that the existing re-location allowance has not been reviewed for a period of years and does not adequately reflect increased costs associated with house removal
o Identify temporary accommodation options to assist staff moving to the Island and to provide a base for potential agency staff who may be employed on fixed term contracts
Both of these issues will be pursued by the Task Group, taking into account budgetary constraints and corporate implications.
o The Task Group is examining a range of other issues, good practice and ideas from other authorities in terms of workforce planning and capacity.
6. PROPOSAL
That the Task Group continue to meet to oversee progress and the development of the recruitment and retention strategy.
It is proposed that the group produces, as part of the strategy a paper on workforce planning; for endorsement by the Portfolio Holder and for information to the Select Committee by October 2003.
7. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The aim is to meet the planned developments referred to in this report from the 2003/2004 budget.
BACKGROUND
PAPERS
Recruitment & Retention of Child Care Social
Workers
Select Committee Report 15 October 2002
Recruitment & Retention of Child Care Social
Workers
Select Committee Report 20 December 2001
Contact Point: Prue Grimshaw; Jimmy Doyle ( 520600
J DOYLE
Acting Strategic Director of Social Services and
Housing