To consider a proposed conversion incentive.

The Committee considered a joint report by the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services on the proposed payment of a conversion incentive to team members in Children’s Services following the conversion of an experienced agency social worker to a permanent employee of the Council.

The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services reminded Members of the continuing difficulties in recruiting and retaining experienced staff in Children’s Services in the face of a national shortage in this area.  She explained how the need to increase the number of posts was in response to the impact of high profile abuse cases and other factors resulting in the number of Looked After Children in Central Bedfordshire Council rising substantially each year since 2009.  Indicators and statistical data showed that the number of Looked After Children would continue to rise in the foreseeable future.  However,  the increasing number of vacancies had led to a reliance on agency workers who could earn considerably more than an employee, despite the payment of market rate supplements to the latter, although agency workers did not receive benefits such as a local government pension.  The national shortage was predicted to continue for approximately a decade.

The Committee noted the work undertaken in Children’s Services by a Social Work Development Group which was considering a number of issues within social work including the challenges faced relating to recruitment and retention.  Linked to this the Group had examined the benefits of providing incentives to encourage experienced agency social workers to join the Council as permanent employees.  A number of options had been considered but it was now suggested that an Agency Worker Conversion Incentive be introduced under which team members would receive the incentive when an agency worker took up a permanent post following the successful completion of the normal recruitment procedures.  All team members, excluding managers, would receive an equal share of a payment of £8k in recognition of their creation of an attractive environment that the agency worker wanted to join.  Given that the agency worker cost approximately £20k more each year than a permanent employee it was stated that a considerable saving would still be made.

The Director of Improvement and Corporate Services advised the meeting that there had been no briefing or consultation on this proposal with Members or other parties and it was therefore intended that the scheme be first trialled for a period of six months.  She stated that details of the scheme itself would be worked up if the Committee indicated its support for it and wider consultation would also take place with the unions.

Although a Member suggested that the trial be postponed to first allow briefing and consultation and the submission of a further report to the next meeting of the Committee, another member of the Committee, drawing on his knowledge as Executive Member for Children’s Services, advised against any delay given the challenges being experienced with social worker recruitment and retention.  He added that the issues had been considered over the previous six-twelve months and the officer report before the Committee clearly set out the reasons in support of the scheme.

Full discussion took place on how a conversion incentive scheme could operate.  Members sought clarification on a number of points and suggested various measures to ensure a scheme’s effective and efficient working.

NOTED

the trialling for six months of a scheme to encourage and reward staff who persuade agency social workers in Children’s Services to take up permanent employment with the Council.

RESOLVED

1          that, once confirmed, details of the above scheme be circulated to members of the General Purposes Committee for their information;

2          that a report on the outcome of the six month trial for the recruitment incentive scheme in the Children’s Services Directorate be submitted to the General Purposes Committee.

(Note: minute GP/13/29 also refers).