The report also shows a large difference in the number of social worker vacancies reported by local authorities, ranging from 0% to 31.1.%.
We’re producing six-monthly reports to provide an accurate picture of social work vacancies at the request of the Scottish Government.
We gathered the data presented in the report as part of the annual collection of local authority social work services (LASWS) staff in December 2023. The report presents data from all 32 local authorities.
This report compares data from the annual censuses of LASWS from December 2018 to December 2023 plus the data from the June 2023 six-monthly survey to provide background and context.
Key findings from the report
- Compared to December 2018, the December 2023 survey shows a 10.7% increase in the WTE of practising social workers.
- Compared to June 2023, the data collected in the December 2023 survey shows a 1.6% increase in the whole time equivalent (WTE) of practising social workers.
- During that period the WTE of senior social workers increased faster than main grade WTE, particularly in children and justice teams.
- Between June and December 2023, the WTE of adult social workers decreased while all others increased.
- The data from December 2023 reported a decrease in WTE vacancies compared to the June figures (albeit from fewer reporting authorities) but still showed an increase from the December 2022 vacancy rate to 10.3%.
- Vacancy rates are higher for main grade posts than senior posts.
- Vacancy rates vary by team, however high rates in the children and adult teams suggests an increasing demand for social workers.
- A large variation in vacancy rates as at December 2023 can be seen across local authorities from 0.0% to 31.1%.
Unlike the first six-monthly social worker survey, we didn’t ask for comments from senior local authority staff on social worker numbers and vacancies in their authorities, so there’s no discussion of senior managers’ views in this report.
Read the second Social worker filled posts and vacancies six-monthly survey report published 12 July 2024.