News

West Sussex Council's decision to increase salaries for social workers in children's services has been criticised by Unison and the Local Government Association.

Owen Davies, senior national officer at Unison, last week warned that the decision was not good for team working across a department. He said pay should be determined by job evaluation, duties and responsibilities, not by staff shortages.

John Ransford, director of education and social policy at the LGA warned that the move could lead to an "auction approach" to staffing.

The council announced two additional pay increments for children's services social workers last month in a bid to tackle high vacancies (news, 8 April, page 7).