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With vacancy rates in some London Boroughs hitting 40%, and national rates running at 15%, urgent action is needed to stop social services across the country heading for meltdown, UNISON warned at a seminar today.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary of UNISON, which represents some 300,000 social care workers, told the conference at the TUC in London, that twenty years of under funding had left staff demoralised and the service close to collapse. He said:

"Staff and clients are suffering from a system which is in danger of collapsing under the strain. Not enough people are joining the workforce and too many of those that do, leave after two or three years burnt out and disillusioned. The Governments response to introduce a star rating system will do nothing to ease the crisis and I fear will only make matters worse.

"Social workers need to keep their minds and actions firmly fixed on the needs of their clients not on the latest performance indicators or government target. How will awarding or taking away stars protect a child at risk or a family in need? It is all too easy to pass the buck, create a blame culture, name and shame and threaten dire consequences and demoralise staff even further."

A new report prepared by Incomes Data Services for UNISON, highlights another reason why people are turning their backs on a career in social services. The report shows that social workers are now the lowest paid group when compared with teachers, nurses and police officers.

Recent initiatives on cost of living supplements, location allowances and other targeted payments, have also boosted the earnings of these other groups but have by-passed social workers. Despite a serious national shortage, there has been no targeting of Government money to deal with this problem.

Dave Prentis went on to say:

"It must be heartbreaking for our members to know that despite carrying a heavy caseload, working long hours, taking work home and covering for staff shortages, it is just never enough. It is heartbreaking to know that because of the lack of resources you will never deliver the quality service that you would like to give, and that your clients so desperately need. And it must be frightening to know that if anything does go wrong, you will be vilified in the media and made a scapegoat by your employers. Is it any wonder that recruitment and retention difficulties for social workers are widespread? And is it any wonder that UNISON is calling on the Government to stop looking at the stars and take urgent action to tackle the problem."

Among those councils in the IDS survey who reported difficulties attracting and keeping social work staff (41 councils), most blamed the problem on a national shortage of qualified social workers. Difficulties were particularly pronounced among staff trained to work within children and families.

A number blamed pay levels and lack of promotion prospects. In addition, councils are also finding they are competing with neighbouring authorities, which in some cases pay more for the same posts. Discontent over pay is linked to the high cost of living in many areas, particularly though not exclusively in London and the South East.

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Further information from Anne Mitchell on 0207 383 0717

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