1. In the last financial year 2021/22 how many incidents did your authority record where qualified social workers were physically assaulted by members of the public while carrying out council duties? Please give a brief description of the circumstances of each incident and the injuries sustained ensuring you give the sex of the social worker who was assaulted.
2. How many working days were lost to the council because social workers were off sick with injuries that had been sustained in the attacks referenced on Question 1?
In response to questions 1 and 2, we can confirm that there was one incident. To disclose any further details, including a description or the impact of the incident, would risk identifying the parties involved. This further information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
3. How many places have been provided on training courses for social workers at your authority in the last financial year 2021/22 which are aimed at giving them either (i) self-defence training, or (ii) methods and technics to defuse potentially violent situations?
Children’s – none
Adults Trained 16 Social Workers in Dealing with Dangerous Behaviour in this time period
4. In the combined total of the last five financial years please state the amount of compensation that has been paid to your social workers as damages for injuries sustained in their work as a result of an assault? Please note that I am after payments made in the last five financial years regardless of when the claim was lodged or when the assault took place.
For the period 01.04.17 – 31.03.22 there has been no payments made by the insurance section as compensation for assault on social workers.
5. In the combined total of the last five financial years please state how many claims for compensation you have received from social workers claiming damages for injuries sustained as a result of an assault while working for your authority. NOTE: This should include all claims received including those that are still in progress or were rejected, as well as those that were settled.
For the period 01.04.17 – 31.03.22 there has been no claims received in the insurance section from social workers who have been assaulted during the course of their work.