Children's social work staffing and costs
Case reference FOI2022/00334
Published 29 April 2022
Request
1. How many full-time staff social workers are currently employed in the children's services department?
2. How many locum/agency social workers are currently employed/hired within the children's services department?
3. How many social worker vacancies are there currently in the children's services department?
4. How much has the department spent for each of the past three financial years on full-time staff social worker salaries?
5. How much has the department spent for each of the past three financial years on locum/agency social workers (including any consultancy fees)?
6. How many staff social workers have left the department in the past year (i.e. no longer work there)?
Response
1. How many full-time staff social workers are currently employed in the children's services department?
36 full time and 17 part time staff social workers as of 1 April 2022.
2. How many locum/agency social workers are currently employed/hired within the children's services department?
As of 1 April 2022, 29 agency social workers have a contract with Herefordshire Council (they are not employed directly by the council). 26 are covering permanent posts and 3 are extra capacity due to temporary funding.
3. How many social worker vacancies are there currently in the children's services department?
As of 21 April 2022 we have 33 permanent social worker posts which are not filled by a permanent employee, however, these may be filled by agency workers. The data is as 21 April because we cannot retrospectively look at positions in our HR system.
4. How much has the department spent for each of the past three financial years on full-time staff social worker salaries?
2019/20 - £2,645,740
2020/21 - £2,425,595
2021/22 - £2,618,949
5. How much has the department spent for each of the past three financial years on locum/agency social workers (including any consultancy fees)?
2019/20 - £951,153
2020/21 - £1,512,014
2021/22 - £1,440,690
6. How many staff social workers have left the department in the past year (i.e. no longer work there)?
20 permanent and 33 agency staff.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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