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4 August 2005

ISBN 0 7559 2689 7 (Web only publication)
ISSN 1479 7569 (online)

This document is also available in pdf format (214k)

A Scottish Executive Statistics Publication

This publication forms part of a series of publications which provide aggregate information on social workers employed by Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services. It contains the results of a quarterly social worker census held across all Scottish local authorities on 4 July 2005.

Care should be taken when comparing staffing figures over time (see Background Notes 1.2 and 1.7).

Headline messages are:

• The number of filled social worker posts has increased by 175 whole time equivalent between April 2005 (4,597 WTE) and July 2005 (4,772 WTE). Caution should be taken when comparing these figures due to staff inclusions for the first time (see Background Notes 1.4 and 1.5).
• The number of social worker vacancies has risen from 521 WTE vacancies in April 2005 to 536 WTE vacancies in July 2005 - a rise of 3 per cent.
• The proportion of all vacant social worker posts has remained roughly the same between April 2005 and July 2005, at 10%.
• The number of filled adult services posts increased from 1,499 WTE in April 2005 to 1,560 WTE in July 2005, but vacancies have increased slightly from 156 WTE to 158 WTE over the same time period.
• In children's services, the number of filled posts have increased by 103 WTE from 2,041 WTE in April 2005 to 2,144 WTE in July 2005, but vacancies have remained the same at 277 WTE over the same time period.
• Between April 2005 and July 2005, the number ( WTE) of filled senior social worker posts has increased by 5 per cent and vacant senior social worker posts have fallen by 3 per cent. As for main grade social workers, the number ( WTE) of filled posts has increased by 4 per cent but the number of vacant main grade social worker posts has also increased by 4 per cent.
• Thirty per cent of all vacant social worker posts have been vacant for over six months. This ranges from 21 per cent in services for offenders (increase of 4 percentage points since April 2005) to 46 per cent in generic provision (fall of 9 percentage points since April 2005).

The following tables and charts are available:

Table 1: Summary figures on social worker staffing statistics: July 2005
Table 2: Social worker staffing position within each local authority area: July 2005
Chart 1: Social workers - October 2000 to July 2005
Chart 2: Social worker vacancies - October 2000 to July 2005
Chart 3: Social worker vacancies as percentage of all posts - October 2000 to July 2005

BACKGROUND NOTES - Social Worker Staff

1. Notes and Definitions

Method of Collection

1.1 Each local authority is asked to submit a quarterly census form detailing the number ( WTE) of filled and unfilled social worker posts there were in its social work/social services department, whether free-standing or part of a larger department. The census dates for these quarterly surveys are the first Monday in January, April, July, and October. Details on the number of filled and unfilled social worker posts by type of activity/ location are collected.

Organisation of Social Work Services

1.2 Social work services can be organised in a number of different ways, and this may impact on the results reported in this publication. For further details, see the Annex to a previous statistical bulletin, 'Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2000'.

Estimates and Revisions

1.3 Figures from a quarterly survey on the number of filled and unfilled social worker posts for April 2005 has been previously published (23 June 2005) by the Scottish Executive. Results from this quarterly survey has been revised and re-published to incorporate a late return from a Local Authority.

1.4 Guidance notes have been created to reduce the discrepancies in the reported number of filled social worker posts highlighted in previous quarterly surveys. These notes can be found through the following link: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16135/SocWorkQuartSurvey

1.5 The guidance notes were formed to provide more robust definitions for the overall group of social workers requested in this survey. This has highlighted some differences in the reporting of social workers among local authorities. For example, some staff who were in a post that required a social worker qualification and have hands-on responsibility for caseloads were not being included in the quarterly return as they are known as Team Leaders/Managers rather than Senior Social Workers.

1.6 We now believe that the number of filled and unfilled social worker posts reported in this publication provides a more accurate picture.

Changes Over Time

Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE)

1.8 It should be borne in mind that WTE figures may be calculated using different weekly hours across local authorities. This can have the effect of WTE figures being slightly higher in local authorities who have reduced their standard full-time working week.

2. General

2.1 The following Executive publications provide figures from the local authority social services staff annual census:

Scottish social work employee statistics 2002
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00273-00.asp

Scottish social work employee statistics 2003
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00355-00.asp

Scottish social work employee statistics 2004
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00420

2.2 The Scottish Children's Statistics Gateway provides a comprehensive summary of regular Scottish social work staffing statistics - www.scotland.gov.uk/statistics/children

2.3 Public enquiries ( non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Children, Young People & Social Care Analytical Services Unit, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1-B(S), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ (telephone 0131 244 0311 or e-mail children.statistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).

2.4 Media enquiries about the information in this Statistics Publication Notice should be addressed to Vikki Quinn on 0131 244 2560.

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