Freedom of Information Co-ordinator,
Civic Offices, New Road, Grays Thurrock, Essex RM17 6SL.
Date: 24/09/2012
M Joneswhatdotheyknow.com
Dear Jones
Re: Freedom of Information request number 3115
Thank you for your request dated 23/09/2012 for the following information:
Please specify the career structure and respective pay bands (including individual pay in pounds Stirling per increment) for social workers.
If known please specify what criteria must be met to progress through the increments and pay banding e.g. completion of a specific post qualifying award. Please do not provide just a pay scale - this will not meet the terms of the request if the question of progression requirements is not addressed.
An expected structure, subject to local differences, would be:
(-) Assistant Social Worker or Community Care Officer
(a) Newly qualified social worker
(b) Entry level social worker
(c) Advanced social worker
(d) Specialist or senior social worker
(e) Lead practitioner or practice manager
(f) Area, cluster or operations manager
(g) Intermediary manager in adult social care
(h) Assistant Director in adult social care
(i) Deputy Director in adult social care
(j) Director of adult social care (most senior
permanent/non-political member of staff)
What is the pay uplift for a worker holding Approved Mental Health Professional status?
What is the monthly and annual value of the essential car user allowance? What is the criteria for a worker to receive this?
How may hours, on average, does a social worker receive in paid training each year?
What training is mandatory for social work staff (social workers and assistant level staff e.g. community care officers) to participate in and complete?
Do all members of staff, including assistant social workers, have recent (in the past 3 years) training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005?
Are assistant social workers permitted to carry out mental capacity assessments according to the process set out in the MCA 2005? If yes what safeguards are in place to ensure the process was carried out correctly and the outcome is in the client's best interests?
What electronic social care records system and version is currently used in (a) children's services and (b) adult social care? (e.g. Framework-i, Liquid Logic, SWIFT, AIS, CareFirst v6). Are any changes to the system planned in the next 2 years?
How many social work assistants are currently employed (i.e. not including locum staff) in (a) children's services and (b) adult social care?
How many newly qualified social workers are currently employed (a) children's services and (b) adult social care?
How many non-newly qualified social workers are currently employed in (a) children's services and (b) adult social care?
How many locum social workers (i.e. agency staff) are currently employed in (a) children's services and (b) adult social care?
What is the current standard pay rate pro rota for locum social workers in (a) children's services and (b) adult social care? If no standard rate then please specify the range in pounds Stirling per hour.
Section 10(1) of the Freedom of Information Act requires that we process your application within 20 working days of the date we received your request, therefore we will respond to you by 22/10/2012. If we are unable to meet this deadline we will inform you of this and the reasons why.
If the information is already available to you through the Council’s publication scheme we will advise you of this. We will advise you whether we hold the information you have requested and if you are able to access it. In some cases where exclusions apply we will not be able to provide you with the information you have requested. If we are unable to provide the information you request we will contact you and inform you of the reasons why. In some cases there may be a charge for the information you have requested. We will keep charges to a minimum and will inform you as soon as possible of any charges that apply.
If you are unhappy with the Council’s response you can make a complaint via the Council's complaints procedures and this will be looked into. If you are not happy with this decision you may then appeal to the Information Commissioner.
Yours faithfully
Linda Dutton
L Dutton
Freedom of Information Coordinator
Telephone (01375) 652242
Macro FOI.acknowledgement.letter
Freedom of Information Co-ordinator,
Civic Offices, New Road, Grays Thurrock, Essex RM17 6SL.
Macro FOI.acknowledgement.letter