One fifth of Wirral’s social workers face pay cuts and job downgrade in New Year shake-up

Dec 24 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Bromborough and Bebington News

A FIFTH of Wirral social workers will face having their roles downgraded and pay reduced as part of a restructuring process due to be initiated next year.

Wirral’s Department for Adult Social Services currently employs 102.5 social workers, but this will be reduced to 80 in the new year.

The 22.5 redundant roles will be replaced with new assessment and support worker posts which pay less and may not make use of employees’ qualifications.

Joe Taylor, Wirral branch secretary for UNISON, said: “We believe these new roles could include the same day-to-day tasks but for less pay.

“However, reducing the number of qualified social worker posts will impact on the service provided to the public.

“The authority spoke to outraged staff on Monday about these new roles and we are continuing our discussions.”

It has been reported in the media already that fears a Baby P tragedy involving an adult victim will happen one day somewhere in the country.

This warning was given during a debate by the adults’ services select committee in West Sussex about growing pressures facing social workers.

Now Wirral social workers could be stretched as a reduced number of them take on more duties, which highlights the adult Baby P warning.

A spokesman for Wirral’s Department for Adult Social Services said: “Our department is working towards the ‘personalisation agenda’.

“As a result, a significant number of new posts will be established and other posts will be changed, but there will be no overall reduction in assessment staff.

“We are making a major investment in social work staff who will be retained as part of the new structure with the focus on deploying their professional skills to work with people with complex needs.

“The reorganisation of the branch will mean a more efficient management structure, more consistency in how staff are supervised and greater flexibility in how staff are deployed.”