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ISSN 1479-7569 (online)
ISBN 0 7559 2811 3 (Web only publication)

This document is also available in pdf format (424k)

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 October 3, 2005.

Care should be taken when comparing staffing figures over time ( see Background Notes 1.5 and 1.6).

Headline messages are:

• The number of filled social worker posts has increased by 143 Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE) between July 2005 (4,772 WTE) and October 2005 (4,915 WTE).
• The number of social worker vacancies has remained the same at 536 WTE vacancies from July 2005 to October 2005.
• The proportion of all vacant social worker posts has fallen slightly between July 2005 and October 2005, from 10.1 per cent to 9.8 per cent.
• The number of filled adult services posts have increased slightly from 1,560 WTE in July 2005 to 1,582 WTE in October 2005, but vacancies have also increased from 158 WTE to 174 WTE over the same time period.
• In children's services, the number of filled posts have increased by 105 WTE from 2,144 WTE in July 2005 to 2,249 WTE in October 2005, and vacancies have fallen slightly from 277 WTE to 271 WTE over the same time period.
• Between July 2005 and October 2005, the number ( WTE) of filled senior social worker posts has increased by 8 per cent but vacant senior social worker posts have also increased by 25 per cent. As for main grade social workers, the number ( WTE) of filled posts has increased by 2 per cent and the number of vacant main grade social worker posts has decreased by 5 per cent.
• Thirty-five per cent of all vacant social worker posts have been vacant for over six months. This ranges from 22 per cent in services for offenders (increase of 1 percentage point since July 2005) to 41 per cent in services for children (increase of 10 percentage points since July 2005). Nearly half of all senior social worker vacancies have been vacant for over 6 months.

The following tables and charts are available:

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

Estimates and Revisions

1.3 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

1.4 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.