We have an information request -see below –
How many child protection social workers do you currently use as agency workers
44 agency workers. This is an actual number (headcount).
The definition we have used is Qualified/Experienced Agency Social Workers working in the following teams:
– Child Protection & Wellbeing
– Permanency & Transition
– Initial Response
– Adoption Service
– Countywide Fostering Service
– Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
– Family Drug & Alcohol Court Work
– Atkinson Unit Childrens Residential Centre
What is the cost per year for each social worker including the fee paid to the agency
The Council operates within a South West Regional Memorandum of Cooperation where child protection social workers are paid within a pay cap scale. We have calculated the cost per year for each agency social worker using the minimum pay cap plus agency charge and the maximum pay cap plus agency charge. Please note this cost is based on the agency worker working 37 hours per week for 52.143 weeks of the year as per a permanent full time equivalent.
The cost per year for each social worker including the fee paid to the agency is from £60,309 to £69,995 based on the above definition.
How many permanent social worker vacancies in child protection do you currently have
32.06 Full Time Equivalent. Please note the 32.06 is FTE and not number/headcount.
We should clarify that we can only report on “social work posts” which includes Senior Social Workers, Senior Practitioners and someone who is working in their Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE).
Therefore, current social work vacancies across Child Protection & Wellbeing, Initial Response and Permanency & Transition teams = 32.06 Full Time Equivalent.
This figure includes those leavers which we have been notified of by the service but have not yet left and also includes pipeline candidates that have been offered but not yet started.
What was your financial spend from the year 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18 for agency social workers
Expenses related to agency child protection social workers have not been included in the costs provided. The costs are inclusive of the agency workers hourly rate including the agency charge. Please note that the costs are based on the definition of Qualified/Experienced Agency Social Workers working in the following teams:
– Child Protection & Wellbeing
– Permanency & Transition
– Initial Response
– Adoption Service
– Countywide Fostering Service
– Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub
– Family Drug & Alcohol Court Work
– Atkinson Unit Childrens Residential Centre
2015-16 £1,724,990
2016-17 £2,347,016
2017-18 £1,978,121 This is costs from April 2017 to Feb 2018 (March 2018 not yet reported)
What is your projected spend on agency social workers for the year 2018/2019
It is difficult to project spend on agency workers so we have forecasted based on the current year 2017-18 costs using an average calculation spread across a 12 month period to obtain a 12 month forecast.
Forecast:
£2,157,950 (estimate)