Wirral Council plans to cut 29 qualified social worker posts
while expanding non-qualified numbers to implement personalisation
reforms in adult care.
In the first reported instance of personalisation leading to
social work job cuts, the council says the proposals will ensure
that "qualified social workers are deployed more effectively",
supporting people with more complex needs.
Transfer
Assessment and care management work for people for lower-level
needs would be transferred to non-qualified staff, the council's
reablement service and users themselves through
self-assessments.
The changes would affect the council's access and assessment
branch, which handles care management at the North West council.
According to figures seen by Community Care, Wirral
employs 174 qualified and non-qualified frontline staff and 45
managers.
Reforms in next year
In reforms, due to be implemented over the next 12 months, the
council will lay out key skills and competences for qualified and
non-qualified staff geared towards a more personalised care system.
These will include helping service users navigate the care system
and plan support, and carrying out outcome-based reviews of care
packages.
One social worker said there was a "high amount of concern"
among practitioners. "Initially, people were shocked and concerned
about their personal jobs and they then started to think about the
future of social work with adults.
"If we can be marginalised to this extent we have to wonder
whether other councils will follow suit."
The practitioner added: "Our view is that the majority of the
work we do is complex. It couldn't be done by someone without a
social work qualification to the same standard."
The reablement service - which supports people entering the care
system to regain independence through intensive home care and
occupational therapy - will expand from 90 to 150 staff, to take on
a more significant role.
