BACKGROUND NOTES - Staff of Scottish Social Work Services
10. Notes and Definitions
Method of Collection
10.1 Each local authority is asked to submit an annual census form detailing the staff employed by its social work/social services department, whether free-standing or part of a larger department. The census date is the first Monday in October.
10.2 Details such as terms of employment, type of activity/ location, gender of staff, age of staff, ethnicity and disability of staff, contract type, qualifications held by staff, qualifications in progress by staff, and number of vacancies were collected in 2007.
Organisation of Social Work Services
10.3 Social work services can be organised in a number of different ways, and this may impact on the results reported in this publication. For further details, see the Annex to a previous statistical bulletin, 'Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services, 2000'.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00106-00.asp
Estimates and Revisions
10.4 October 2007 staffing data was not provided by Dundee City Council or for Eilean Siar. As data for Dundee City has not been provided for the past 2 years, the data supplied by Dundee City in 2005 has been used in this publication, whereas the 2006 data for Eilean Siar has been used.
10.5 Major changes to both staffing and vacancy figures in October 2006 included:
The introduction of an employee status variable which was introduced to highlight those staff actually working in posts on Monday 2 nd October 2006 (including those covering an absentee) and those who were absent ( e.g. on maternity leave). This was introduced to eliminate double-counting of staff which was brought to our attention during discussions with local authorities. As a result any changes in the numbers and WTE of staff between 2006 and previous years will then be affected as a result of eliminating this double counting.
10.6 Figures from a bi-annual survey on the number of filled and unfilled social worker posts for October 2007 have been previously published by the Scottish Government. Results from this survey showed a slightly higher overall number of filled social worker posts, and a slightly lower number of vacant social worker posts, than shown in this annual (October 2007) survey. However, these figures are deemed more reliable and supersede these previous published figures. The bi-annual survey of filled and unfilled social worker posts is no longer carried out.
10.7 Information on starters and leavers in local authority social work services was requested for the first time in October 2007. A number of local authorities were unable to provide information for 2007, and together with the fact that this was the first year this information was collected, any analysis of this information must be treated with caution.
Changes Over Time
10.8 As a result of changes in the classifications used on census forms, breakdowns into different activities, locations or staff groups are not always strictly comparable across years.
10.9 It should also be noted that different local authorities may classify staff differently, according to the way work is organised in their area. Social workers, for example, may be classified either under generic provision, or by the nature or location of their work (adult services, children's services etc.). In addition, an increase in care management services has resulted in many staff previously designated as social workers or occupational therapists being assigned to care manager roles.
Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE)
10.10 Whole Time Equivalent ( WTE), where used, is an addition of i) the number of full-time staff, and ii) the total number of hours worked by all the part-time staff in a week, divided by the number of hours considered to be the standard full-time week for a member of staff in each category. It should be borne in mind that WTE figures may be calculated using different weekly hours in different categories and also between local authorities. This can have the effect of WTE figures being slightly higher in local authorities who have reduced their standard full-time working week, but the number of part-time hours worked remains the same.
10.11 WTE figures have been rounded independently. As a result, WTE totals in tables may not equal the sum of the categories shown.
Type of Activity/Location
10.12 The following terms are used in the tables:
Strategic/ Central Staff | Staff with a strategic and/or central role, including senior management, administrators and support staff; |
Criminal Justice Staff | All staff providing services for offenders, regardless of location; |
Fieldwork Staff | Fieldwork staff in divisional and area offices; |
Residential Staff: Services for Children | Staff based in residential establishments for children ( e.g. local authority children's homes and residential nurseries); |
Residential Staff: Services for Adults | Staff based in residential establishments which are not primarily for children. This covers local authority homes for older people (including sheltered housing) and residential establishments for other client groups ( e.g. people with learning disabilities); |
| Day Centre Staff: Services for Children | Staff based in day care establishments for children. This includes local authority children's centres, family centres, day nurseries and playgroups, together with any childminders or day carers regularly employed by the local authority; |
| Day Centre Staff: Services for Adults | Staff based in day care establishments which are not primarily for children. This includes staff in adult training centres, day centres for people with learning or physical disabilities, and day centres for older people; |
| Domiciliary Staff | Home care staff and managers, and other domiciliary staff ( e.g. community alarms staff and respite staff); |
| Staff on Secondment | Staff who, on 3 October (in years prior to 2006), were on full time secondment for professional training or to the Scottish Executive, Health Boards or other organisations. |
Staff Groups
10.13 The following terms are used in the tables:
Senior Managers, etc | Directors/Heads of Service, Service Managers, Other Senior Staff, Area Managers, Team Leaders/Managers, Planning, Commissioning and Contracting Staff, Registration/Inspection Officers; |
Social Workers | Senior Social Workers and Main Grade Social Workers; |
Other Qualified Fieldwork Staff | Care Managers, Senior Occupational Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Welfare Rights Officers, Community Service Staff, Supervised Attendance Staff, Other Qualified Fieldwork Staff; |
Fieldwork Assistants | Social Work Assistants and Occupational Therapy Assistants; |
Home Care Staff & Managers | Home Care Managers, Assistant Home Care Managers/Supervisors, Home Care Staff; |
Other Domiciliary Staff | Sheltered Housing Wardens, Community Alarms Staff, Respite Staff; |
Day Care - Managers & Qualified Care Staff | Unit Managers, Assistant Unit Managers, Other Qualified Care Staff; |
Day Care - Care Staff | Care Staff; |
Residential - Managers & Qualified Care Staff | Unit Managers, Assistant Unit Managers, Residential Resource Workers, Other Qualified Care Staff; |
Residential - Care Staff | Care Staff; |
Support Staff | Research & Information Officers, Human Resources Staff, Finance Staff, Ancillary Staff, Support Services; |
Secondments | Full-time Secondments (in years before 2006); |
| Trainee Social Workers | Including Fast Trackers and on the job trainees. |
Qualification Type
10.14 The following qualification codes are used in the tables:
Code | Description |
|---|
0000 | None |
AD01 | Advanced Award in Social Work |
AD02 | Mental Health Social Work Award |
AD03 | Post-Qualifying Award in Social Work |
AD04 | Practice Teaching Award |
AD05 | Regulation of Care Award |
AD06 | Registered Manager's Award |
AV01 | Assessor award: Assess candidates using a range of methods |
AV02 | Assessor award: Assess candidates' performance through observation |
AV03 | Verifier award: Conduct internal quality assurance of the assessment process |
AV04 | Verifier award: Conduct external quality assurance of the assessment process |
BA01 | BA Childhood or Early Childhood Studies |
BA02 | BA Childhood & Youth Studies |
BA03 | BA (Hons) in Professional Studies (Playwork) |
CR01 | A Supervisory or Management Qualification with a minimum of 15 academic credits at SCQF level 7 or above ( e.g. one module in supervision or management or more at HNC level or above) |
CR02 | An award in management that is certificated at or above SCQF Level 8 (minimum 60 credits) ( e.g. four modules in management at HND level or above) |
CR03 | An assessed programme of study (either through a taught programme or by portfolio) where a minimum of 60 credit points covers management, at post-qualifying or advanced level awarded by the PQ Consortium for Social Work in Scotland ( e.g. a certificate in Social Work Management recognized by PQ Consortium) |
CR04 | Any qualification at or above SCQF level 7 ( HNC level or above), giving minimum of 96 academic credits (96 credits would be enough for a whole HNC). This includes: - HNC/Certificate in Higher Education (not otherwise specified)
- HND/Diploma in Higher Education (not otherwise specified)
- Ordinary/Honours degree (not otherwise specified)
- Master's degree (not otherwise specified)
- PhD/Doctorate (not otherwise specified)
|
CR05 | Group of 21 credits from the range of SCOTVEC/ SQA national certificate, childcare units listed in 'List A' (currently recognised for the purposes of pre-registration with the Scottish Child Care Education Board) |
CR06 | Group of 21 credits from the SCOTVEC modules in childcare listed in 'List B' (currently recognised for the purposes of registration with the Scottish Child Care Education Board |
CT01 | Advanced Certificate in Supervising and Managing Personal and Social Services |
CT02 | Certificate in Child Protection |
CT03 | Certificate of HE in Curative Education |
CT04 | Certificate in Hospital Play Specialism ( HPSET) |
CT05 | Certificate in the Residential Care of Children & Young People |
CT06 | The National Nursery Nurse Examination Board Certificate ( NNEB) |
CT07 | Post Graduate Certificate or Post Graduate Diploma in Early Education |
CT08 | The Scottish Nursery Nurse Examination Board Certificate |
CT09 | Senior Certificate in the Residential Care of Children & Young People |
CT10 | (National) Certificate in Social Care |
DG01 | Degree/Diploma in Community Education or equivalent. |
DG02 | Degree in Curative Education |
DG03 | Open University Foundation Degree in Early Years |
DP01 | Diploma in Social Work or equivalent |
DP02 | Diploma in Teaching Mentally Handicapped Adults |
DP03 | Diploma in Curative Education |
HC01 | HNC Childcare & Education |
HC02 | HNC/D Support for Learning |
HC03 | HNC Health Care |
HC04 | HNC in Social Care |
HC05 | HNC Social Care with either SVQ 3 Playwork or SVQ 3 Early Years Care & Education |
HC06 | HNC Supporting Learning Needs |
HC07 | HNC Working with Children |
HD01 | HND Supporting Learning Needs |
NQ01 | NVQ 3 in Community Justice (Work with Offending Behaviour) to include or with the addition of a value base unit ("O" or Principles of Care) |
NQ02 | NVQ 3 Community Justice (Work with Victims, Survivors & Witnesses) to include or with the addition of a value base unit ("O" or Principles of Care) |
NQ03 | NVQ 4 Community Justice (Work With Offending Behaviour) to include or with the addition of a value base unit ("O" or Principles of Care) |
NQ04 | NVQ 4 Community Justice (Work with Victims, Survivors & Witnesses) to include or with the addition of a value base unit ("O" or Principles of Care) |
PD01 | Professional Development Award - Childcare and Education |
PD02 | Professional Development Award - Classroom Assistant |
PD03 | Professional Development Award - Support for Learning |
QU01 | A qualification other than an SVQ recognised by Scottish Child Care & Education Board (Appendix 1) |
RG01 | Qualification meeting requirements of Arts, Music and Drama Therapists HP Council |
RG02 | Qualification meeting requirements for Chartered Registration with the British Psychological Society |
RG03 | Qualification meeting requirements of General Medical Council |
RG04 | Qualification meeting registration requirements of General Teaching Council |
RG05 | Qualification meeting registration requirements of Nursing and Midwifery Council |
RG06 | Qualification meeting requirements of Occupational Therapists HP Council |
RG07 | Qualification meeting requirements of Physiotherapists HP Council |
RG08 | Qualification meeting registration requirements of Speech & Language therapists HP Council |
RG09 | Qualification meeting accreditation requirements of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. |
SP01 | Scottish Progression Award; Children's Care and Play |
SP02 | SPA Drivers and Escorts |
SP03 | SPA Enhanced Home Care Practice |
SP04 | SPA Home Care Practice |
SP05 | Scottish Progression Award; in Playwork with the course Introducing Playwork (Skills Active) |
SQ01 | SVQ 2 Child Care & Education |
SQ02 | SVQ 2 Early Years Care & Education |
SQ03 | SVQ 2 Playwork |
SQ04 | SVQ 3 Childcare & Education |
SQ05 | SVQ 3 Early Years Care & Education |
SQ06 | SVQ 3 in Care with HNC Social Care (Combined Award) |
SQ07 | SVQ 3 in Community Justice (Work with Offending Behaviour) |
SQ08 | SVQ 3 in Community Justice (Work with Victims, Survivors & Witnesses) |
SQ09 | SVQ 3 Playwork |
SQ10 | SVQ 4 Early Years Care & Education (including Playwork) with management strand |
SQ11 | SVQ 4 Community Justice (Work With Offending Behaviour) |
SQ12 | SVQ 4 Community Justice (Work With Victims, Survivors & Witnesses) |
SQ13 | SVQ 4 Manager's Award (other than Registered Manager) |
VQ01 | S/ NVQ 2 in Care or Direct Care |
VQ02 | Any other SVQ or NVQ 2 (not otherwise specified) |
VQ03 | S/ NVQ 3 in Care |
VQ04 | S/ NVQ 3 in Caring for Children & Young People |
VQ05 | S/ NVQ 3 in Promoting Independence |
VQ06 | Any other SVQ or NVQ 3 (not otherwise specified) |
VQ07 | S/ NVQ 4 in Care |
VQ08 | Any other SVQ or NVQ 4 (not otherwise specified) |
OT01 | Other UK Social Services qualification |
OT02 | Non- UK Social Services qualification |
9999 | Not known/not provided |
Differences between Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services Census and Joint Staffing Watch survey.
10.15 Statistics on the number of social work posts are also collected in the Joint Staffing Watch. At the start of 2008, work was carried out exploring the differences in figures published in the two sources. This identified reporting issues for some local authorities which have now been rectified and should help improve the accuracy and comparability between this Annual Local Authority Social Work Services Staffing Census and the Joint Staffing Watch.
Additional Analyses
10.16 Additional analyses are available on request.
11. Resources
11.1 For historical statistics and background information on Staff of Scottish Social Work Services, please see the previous publications:
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2001
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00197-00.asp
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2002
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00273-00.asp
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2003
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00355-00.asp
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2004
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00420
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2005
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00511
Staff of Scottish Local Authority Social Work Services 2006
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00595
11.2 The information in this News Release was obtained from a statistical return. The attached link gives details of the statistics collected from each local authority:
Requested data:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/AnnualSW2007Form
Guidance notes:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Children/AnnualSW2007Notes
12. General
12.1 This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
12.2 Public enquiries ( non-media) about the information contained in this News Release should be addressed to Gillian Miller, Children, Young People and Social Care Statistics, Scottish Government Education Directorate, Area 1-B(S), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ (telephone 0131 244 0311 or e-mail gillian.miller2@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).
12.3 Media enquiries about the information in this Statistics Publication Notice should be addressed to Brendan Rooney on 0131 244 2960.