BGCM Motions 2019

GFTU BGCM 2019 MOTION 11

SWU - Social Workers Union

Working Conditions of Social Workers.

This AGM calls on the BGCM meeting to support the recent research report by Bath Spa University’s Dr Jermaine Ravalier. The research showed that as many as 92% of the 100,000 registered social workers in England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland are working an average of 10 hours of unpaid overtime every week. This equates to approximately 480 hours every year, or 64 days, per person. 3421 social workers contributed to the Bath Spa University and SWU survey in Sept 2018 Overall, the findings from Dr. Jermaine Ravalier’s research in 2018 shows that working conditions for social workers are at a worrying poor level thus creating stress for UK social workers. Specifically, six of the working conditions out of seven – demands, control, managerial support, peer support, colleague and service user behaviour, role and change – have deteriorated further a year on for virtually social worker job roles

Social workers are dedicated to their service users and but need greater resources available for them.

Key findings

Working conditions of social workers are still operating at poor levels and adding to high levels of stress, presenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and intentions both to leave the current job and the social work profession entirely.

46% of social workers are dissatisfied in 2018 compared to 41% in 2017

Nearly 7/10 social workers attended work while so ill they should have taken time off 60% looking to leave their current job within the next 15 months compared to 52% last year

Nearly 40% social workers exposed to aggressive or physically abusive behaviours at least once a month from service users

Social workers remain dedicated to their service users and clearly want greater resources available for them