Pay children’s social workers more

Children’s social workers need higher salaries if they are
not to leave their jobs for less pressurised posts, delegates at a
child care conference  heard last month.
Steve Love, assistant director of social services at Hampshire
Council, told the conference, organised by Community Care’s
sister magazine 0-19, that social workers were being attracted
towards adult and youth services because they were often seen as
less stressful.
Love said: “A children’s social worker can get the same
money as a Connexions adviser. Unless we make it an attractive
choice to work with children, social workers will have other
options open to them.”
Community care minister Stephen Ladyman said in July that the
Department of Health was considering encouraging local authorities
to increase the pay of social workers who take on tougher cases
(Recruitment Talk, September 2003).
Love went on highlight that agencies provide better rates of pay
for social workers than many local authorities. “We see
agency staff, who can work less hours, earn more money. And that is
enticing away some of our own staff.”