A Freedom of Information (FOI) request sent to all 151 top-tier local authorities in England by CYP Now finds that almost one third of councils that responded now offer such incentive payments – known as “golden hellos”.
Of these, 45 per cent introduced them in last three years as competition for social workers has increased amid rising vacancy rates.
Meanwhile, 15 per cent of local authorities which responded to the request say they offer retention packages as high as £12,000 to encourage social workers to stay with the local authority long-term.
The British Association of Social Workers confirmed that it has seen a growth in financial incentives offered in areas where local authorities are “competing with agencies” to recruit staff.
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
