WLGA responds to Western Mail story on councils paying 'supplements' for social workers
18 August 2009
Responding to today’s Western Mail story that councils are paying supplements to social workers, a WLGA Spokesperson said:
“Local authorities are 22 independent employers. Social workers’ pay and terms and conditions are agreed in the same way as other professions within a local authority. They are agreed fairly and subject to a robust job evaluation process. Unlike teachers for example who have a UK pay structure set by national statute, local authorities across Wales are responsible for agreeing locally their individual pay structures which includes the pay scales for social workers.
Councils act responsibly in setting the pay levels of their staff. An appropriate and competitive salary is vital for social workers if councils are to reward them for their demanding and vital roles within the community and for helping to deliver continual improvement across social services in Wales. However, a competitive salary is only one element of the recruitment and retention of social workers. In many cases social workers’ case loads are too high and there needs to be better opportunities for career progression. Focusing solely on pay over simplifies the significant challenge Welsh councils are facing in ensuring they have a strong and fully supported social care workforce. This does not only mean councils having qualified social workers but having adequate resources to better meet society’s rising expectations.”