
Unison has attended meetings and heard directly from many of our members working in Social Work at Cambridgeshire County Council CCC. The situation appears to be at breaking point, with whole Teams disbanded through resignation and many others struggling with staff shortages, relying on agency staff and Social Work apprentices picking up work they should not be doing.
Unison has raised issues at its regular meetings, but as one Social Worker observed at a recent meeting with senior staff, 'you might be listening, but you haven't heard'. Despite the clear message and acknowledgement from CCC that caseloads are excessive, the mid 30's are not uncommon. Our calls and yours, have not been acted upon.
High case loads have caused Social Worker's to raise concerns that we are in a situation for 'an accident waiting to happen', 'we will have a serious incident and we will have our registration at risk' is a sentiment that Unison has heard many times.

Despite these concerns, CCC is currently consulting on the closure of the Reunification service RAPPS, When the closure takes effect in April, this vital and time consuming service, will become the responsibility of our hard pressed Social Workers. Already over burdened, yet CCC is piling more work on them. What does CCC think will be the outcome of this ludicrous decision to close RAPSS?
Saving money but at what cost.
Retention is a huge issue, many Social Workers have left due to being crushed by the work. With the eminent closure of RAPPS, Unison requested that Social Workers were informed of the decision, to give them extra responsibilities, stating that Social Worker T''s&C's were being changed, so Social Workers needed to be informed, and given the right to respond. Despite assurances, no communication has gone out from CCC to Social Workers on this matter.
Treating Social Worker's in this way, only contributes to the message that Social Worker's re receiving and voicing; that they are not being heard. One Social Worker said to Unison recently that they were told 'CCC were a kind local authority', adding that they 'never had (experienced) it'. Others informed Unison that they are being 'managed by tyranny, rather than compassion', and that discrimination, harassment and bullying is common.
The 'toxic culture' that exists needs to change. It needs to change for the vulnerable children and adults that our Social Workers serve, For Social Workers own health, where an employer is failing in its Duty of Care. CCC should take note and act fast on the issues raised at the meetings and by Unison.
Unison Cambridgeshire will be shortly consulting Social Workers via a survey, please look out for it in your email inbox, and return.
If you want to discuss any issue within your Team with Unison, or share your experiences, email unison@cambridgeshire.gov.uk with the subject heading: Social Work issue: FAO of Rob Turner or call the Branch Office on 01223 699258.
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