CYP Now - London boroughs join scheme to halt ‘expensive bidding wars’ for social workers

A London-wide pay rate scheme, set up last year to halt bidding wars for children’s social workers, is being backed by 32 councils across the capital.

Councils across the capital have signed up to the pledge. Picture: Rabbit75_fot/Adobe Stock

The pan London agreement sees a set pay rate for social workers across the capital and a joint commitment not to use agency candidates who left permanent posts at councils in London in the past six months.

Representative body London Councils says this “unprecedented level of collaboration” also involves joint working with social work agencies to further control costs and commitments around information sharing on references and working together to improve retention rates.

Through the partnership, called the London Pledge, boroughs are “sharing staffing and recruitment data transparently", said London Councils.

They are also contributing to a shared strategy aimed at reducing competition and improving the working environment for social worker”.

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