Glasgow to boost social workers’ pay

Starting salaries for newly qualified social workers in Glasgow could rise by £2,000 as part of a council-wide pay and benefits review.

The proposal would raise the pay of entry-level social workers to £29,000 a year. Senior social workers’ annual pay will also rise by at least £435, dispelling fears of a deterioration in their terms and conditions to subsidise an increase for some care staff.

However, gains for qualified social workers look set to be at the expense of their most senior para-professional colleagues, who have been largely credited with delivering a turnaround in the council’s fortunes since their role was established in 2004.

Most of the department’s 426 social care workers will receive a pay rise, but the most experienced staff will lose around £1,000 a year.

But the unions say the cut essentially downgrades the position and could take away the ability of paraprofessionals to manage cases.

Unison social work convener Ronnie Stevenson said: “The new job profile doesn’t reflect their current level of responsibilities. If you applied it tomorrow it would create severe operational difficulties.”

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