Appointment of new Social Workers / Filling vacant Posts

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Please find attached a letter from Sandwell Council in response to your recent contact.

This letter will advise you of the timescales for response and will provide our contact details should you need to get in touch.

If you cannot open the attachment please download the FREE adobe reader that can be found at www.adobe.com
Please do not reply to this e-mail but instead use the contact details found in the letter.

Please find attached a letter from Sandwell Council in response to your recent contact.

This letter will advise you of the timescales for response and will provide our contact details should you need to get in touch.

If you cannot open the attachment please download the FREE adobe reader that can be found at www.adobe.com
Please do not reply to this e-mail but instead use the contact details found in the letter.

Please find attached a letter from Sandwell Council in response to your recent contact.

This letter will advise you of the timescales for response and will provide our contact details should you need to get in touch.

If you cannot open the attachment please download the FREE adobe reader that can be found at www.adobe.com
Please do not reply to this e-mail but instead use the contact details found in the letter.

Dear Mr Measures,

Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to this enquiry. I
have spoken to my colleagues within our Employee Services Division and
they are currently in the process of collating the information you have
requested and aim to respond by no later than Friday 9th July 2010.

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Parr

Data Protection/Freedom of Information Officer

Democratic Services

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Sandwell Council House

0121 569 3248

Dear Mr Measures,

Please see below the Council's response to your Freedom of Information
enquiry:

Question 1 - Will you please advise the number of qualified social workers
(QSW's) in Children's Services on the full establishment list for Sandwell
as at 31 March 2008, 31 March 2009, 31 March April 2010 and currently.

The number of qualified social workers, including senior practitioners, is
as follows:

As at 31/03/2008 - 108

As at 31/03/2009 - 114

As at 31/03/2010 - 117

Question 2 - Will you please advise dates on which any reductions were
agreed to Children's Services and to what lower / high numbers.

There was a reduction of 16 posts overall in the structure, that was
agreed on 26th May 2010.

Question 3 - Will you please advise of the average vacancy rates in
Children's Services for each of the above periods.

We have the number of vacancies but we are not able to say what that is as
a percentage of the total although we can provide an estimate, if
required. The term "vacancies" refers to positions advertised.

There were approximately 4 vacancies during 01/04/2007 to 31/03/2008

There were approximately 16 vacancies during 01/04/2008 to 31/03/2009

There were approximately 41 vacancies during 01/04/2009 to 31/03/2010

Question 4 - How many QSW's have left Sandwell Children's Services on a
monthly basis between 1 April 2008 and currently and also for each monthly
period how many new QSW's were employed.

Please see the following table reflective of the number of qualified
social workers that have left and were employed for the specified period:

Qualified Social Workers and Senior Practitioners
Month/ Year Leavers and New Starters to SMBC
Leavers New Starters
Apr-2008 0 1
May-2008 0 1
Jun-2008 0 1
Jul-2008 1 2
Aug-2008 1 2
Sep-2008 1 1
Oct-2008 0 1
Nov-2008 4 2
Dec-2008 1 0
Jan-2009 2 1
Feb-2009 0 1
Mar-2009 0 0
Apr-2009 1 0
May-2009 1 0
Jun-2009 1 0
Jul-2009 3 0
Aug-2009 2 1
Sep-2009 1 2
Oct-2009 2 1
Nov-2009 0 1
Dec-2009 2 0
Jan-2010 0 0
Feb-2010 0 5
Mar-2010 1 6
Apr-2010 1 9
May-2010 2 4
Jun-2010 1 2
Total 28 44

5) What is the current Establishment for QSW's in Children's Services and
how many are in Post?

The current establishment for QSW's is 162

Currently, there are 127 qualified Social Workers including Senior
Practitioners in post.

The difference between current establishment and practitioners in post is
primarily due to a restructure of the service. These posts will be filled
by the creation of 23 new Advance Social Work Practitioner posts, with the
remainder being filled by Qualified Social Workers. If you would like to
request a review of this decision, you can do so by contacting

Contact Cente

Sandwell Council House

Freeth Street

Oldbury

B69 3DE

[1][Sandwell Borough Council request email]

Please quote the reference number above on any communications. If you
require any clarification in respect of your response, please do not
hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Nigel Parr

Data Protection/Freedom of Information Officer

Democratic Services

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Sandwell Council House

0121 569 3248

References

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1. mailto:[Sandwell Borough Council request email]