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Unison Scotland has hit out at the problems social work staff face and is calling for a full-scale review.

A campaign document, The Future for Scotland's Social Work, paints a bleak picture of a service struggling under increasing pressure and facing recruitment, retention and pay problems.

Stephen Smellie, chairperson of Unison Scotland's social work issues group, said: "Staff from qualified social workers to social work assistants face problems of large numbers of vacancies, increased stress and reducing support.


"These lead to lack of back-up, increasing risks of violence, no time to train and increased pressure on unqualified staff."

Unison Scotland wants a full-scale review to focus on pay, training, recruitment, retention, resources, the role of social workers and other staff, protection and support. The document is being launched as part of the union's Revitalise our Public Services campaign.

- Go to www.unison-scotland.org.uk