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Statistical Bulletin SWK/S/2002/24
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services

ANNEX

8. Notes and Definitions

Method of Collection

8.1 Each Local Authority is asked to submit an annual census form detailing the staff employed by their Social Work/ Social Services Department, whether free-standing or part of a larger Department. The census date is the first Monday in October. Full details on terms of employment, grade, type of activity/ location, gender of staff and number of vacancies were collected in 2001.

Organisation of Social Work Services

8.2 Social Work services can be organised in a number of different ways, and this may impact on the results reported in this bulletin. For further details, see the Annex to last year’s statistical bulletin, ‘Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2001’.

Estimates and Revisions

8.3 Figures for 1996 and 1997 include estimates for The Scottish Borders, where actual figures were not available.

Changes Over Time

8.4 As a result of changes in the classifications used on census forms, breakdowns into different activities, locations or grades are not always strictly comparable across years. 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)

8.5 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE), where used, is an addition of i) the number of Full Time staff, and ii) the total number of hours worked by all the Part Time staff in a week, divided by the number of hours considered to be the standard Full Time week for a member of staff in each category. A reduction to a 37 hour working week is currently at various stages within councils. This reduction however only affects a proportion of council staff, as some are already working less than 37 hours per week. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that WTE figures may be calculated using different weekly hours in different categories and also between councils. This can have the effect of WTE figures being slightly higher in councils who have reduced their standard Full Time working week, but the number of Part Time hours worked remains the same.

8.6 WTE figures have been rounded independently. As a result, WTE totals in tables may not equal the sum of the categories shown.

Type of Activity/ Location

8.7 The following terms are used in the tables:

Strategic/ Central Staff

Staff with a strategic and/ or central role, including senior management, administrators and support staff;

Criminal Justice Staff

All staff providing services for offenders, regardless of location;

Fieldwork Staff

Fieldwork staff in divisional and area offices;

Residential Staff: Services for Children

Staff based in residential establishments for children (e.g. local authority children’s homes and residential nurseries);

Residential Staff: Services for Adults

Staff based in residential establishments which are not primarily for children. This covers local authority homes for older people (including sheltered housing) and residential establishments for other client groups (e.g. people with learning disabilities);

Day Centre Staff: Services for Children

Staff based in day care establishments for children. This includes local authority children’s centres, family centres, day nurseries and playgroups, together with any childminders or day carers regularly employed by the local authority;

Day Centre Staff: Services for Adults

Staff based in day care establishments which are not primarily for children. This includes staff in adult training centres, day centres for people with learning or physical disabilities, and day centres for older people;

Domiciliary Staff

Home care staff and managers, and other domiciliary staff (e.g. community alarms staff and respite staff);

Staff on Secondment

Staff who, on 1 October 2001, were on full time secondment for professional training or to the Scottish Executive, Health Boards or other organisations.

Staff Groups

8.8 The following terms are used in the tables:

Senior Managers, etc

Directors/ Heads of Service, Service Managers, Other Senior Staff, Area Managers, Team Leaders/ Managers, Planning, Commissioning and Contracting Staff, Registration/ Inspection Officers;

Social Workers

Senior Social Workers and Main Grade Social Workers;

Other Qualified Fieldwork Staff

Care Managers, Senior Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Welfare Rights Officers, Community Service Staff, Supervised Attendance Staff, Other Qualified Fieldwork Staff;

Fieldwork Assistants

Social Work Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants;

Home Care Staff & Managers

Home Care Managers, Assistant Home Care Managers/ Supervisors, Home Care Staff;

Other Domiciliary Staff

Sheltered Housing Wardens, Community Alarms Staff, Respite Staff;

Day Care — Managers & Qualified Care Staff

Unit Managers, Assistant Unit Managers, Other Qualified Care Staff;

Day Care — Care Staff

Care Staff

Residential — Managers & Qualified Care Staff

Unit Managers, Assistant Unit Managers, Residential Resource Workers, Other Qualified Care Staff;

Residential — Care Staff

Care Staff

Support Staff

Research & Information Officers, Human Resources Staff, Finance Staff, Ancillary Staff, Support Services;

Secondments

Full-time Secondments

Additional Analyses

8.9 Additional analyses are available on request.

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