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February 8, 2006

ISBN 0 7559 2952 7 (Web only publication)
ISSN 1479-7569 (online)

This document is also available in pdf format (72k)

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 January 9, 2006.

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 16 Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE) between October 2005 (4,916 WTE) and January 2006 (4,931 WTE).
• The number of social worker vacancies has decreased by 38 WTE vacancies from October 2005 (536 WTE) to January 2006 (498 WTE).
• The proportion of all vacant social worker posts has fallen slightly between October 2005 and January 2006, from 9.8 per cent to 9.2 per cent.
• The number of filled adult services posts have decreased slightly from 1585 WTE in October 2005 to 1575 WTE in January 2006, but vacancies have also decreased from 170 WTE to 130 WTE over the same time period.
• In children's services, the number of filled posts have increased slightly by 4 WTE from 2247 WTE in October 2005 to 2251 WTE in January 2006, but vacancies have also risen slightly from 272 WTE to 274 WTE over the same time period.
• Between October 2005 and January 2006, the number ( WTE) of filled senior social worker posts has decreased by 2 per cent but vacant senior social worker posts have remained the same. As for main grade social workers, the number ( WTE) of filled posts have increased by 1 per cent and the number of vacant main grade social worker posts have decreased by 9 per cent.
• Thirty-five per cent of all vacant social worker posts have been vacant for over six months. This ranges from 19 per cent in the generic provision (decrease of 21 percentage points since October 2005) to 39 per cent in services for children (decrease of 2 percentage points since October 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: January 2006
Table 2: Social worker staffing position within each local authority area: January 2006
Chart 1: Social workers - October 2001 to January 2006
Chart 2: Social worker vacancies - October 2001 to January 2006
Chart 3: Social worker vacancies as percentage of all posts - October 2001 to January 2006

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.

1.5 We believe that local authorities are now reporting the number of filled and unfilled social worker posts more accurately but this has affected changes over time.

Changes Over Time

1.6 It should also be noted that different local authorities may classify staff differently, according to the way work is organised in their area. Social workers, for example, may be classified either under generic provision, or by the nature or location of their work (adult services, children's services etc.). In addition, an increase in care management services has resulted in many staff (previously designated as social workers or occupational therapists) being assigned to care manager roles.

Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE)

1.7 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
https://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 Sharon Meighan, 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 sharon.meighan@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 2960.

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