News

• New staff roles created in Glasgow to cope with caseload
• Edinburgh director resigns over death

Social workers in Edinburgh are set to receive pay rises in a bid to end the recruitment and retention crisis in the city, writes Natasha Salari.

Plans to increase the wages of social workers and give additional bonuses to social workers with extra qualifications in mental health and child protection will go before the council next week.

The director of social work in Edinburgh, Les McEwan, resigned last month after an inquiry report criticised his department's handling of the death of 11-week old Caleb Ness.

Meanwhile, the re-structuring of Glasgow social services department to ease a staffing crisis will cost £4.5 million a year, the council has confirmed.

New plans will lead to more than 100 social services managers being sent back to the frontline. They will take on case work and manage re-structured practice teams of social workers supported by social care workers, formerly unqualified social work assistants.

More than 280 practice teams will be set up and managed by a practice team leader who will be able to earn up to £33,700 a year. Senior social workers will be assessed for their suitability to take on the role. The new  post of social care worker will attract a salary of up to £21,500, compared with the current £19,000 for social work assistants.

The scheme will cost the council £2 million in extra wages and training from the year beginning April 2004, but the bill is expected to rise to £4.5 million in subsequent years.

The proposals have already received approval from the council’s social care services committee, but will now go before the full council in December.