Payouts to keep social workers

Kent County Council has paid £3.8m in retention payments to more than 1,200 social workers in the last three years, figures obtained by the KM Group show.

And the authority has spent £360,707 in “golden hellos” to encourage social workers to take up job offers over the same period.

The figures underline the challenges faced by KCC in trying to hold on to social workers as record numbers leave the profession.

Social services chiefs say they are reviewing the payment scheme to assess its effectiveness.

It has also emerged the council is pursuing 29 former social workers who took up jobs but left after less than two years and should have repaid some or all of the incentive money received.

Of the 29 ex-staff, 14 owe £1,000 and 10 owe £2,000.

Like many authorities, KCC has found recruitment of social workers more difficult in recent years, with many citing the pressure and workload as reasons for not taking up jobs.

According to the British Association of Social Workers, a survey carried out in 2017 revealed more than 50% of staff were considering leaving the profession.

A spokesman for BASW said: “Ever increasing demand but diminishing resources is pushing social services to the brink, and social workers are bearing the brunt.”