These statistics were published in June 2011.
“This publication contains statistics obtained from the staffing census held across all local authorities on 4 October 2010. It presents findings from a range of statistics to provide an overall picture on staffing levels, and details about the staff in filled posts.
Information on vacancies is also provided. However, care must be taken when looking at these due to difficulties local authorities have in reporting this information, and inconsistencies in how vacancies are being reported by local authorities. As a result, comparisons across local authorities is not appropriate.
The main findings are:
- There were 41,062 whole time equivalent ( WTE) staff employed by Scottish local authority social work services departments in October 2010, which corresponded to 7.9 staff per 1,000 population. ( Table 1)
- However, this total WTE staff figure includes 323 WTE staff (largely teachers and assistants who work with children with additional support needs) who are now being included in this Census by Scottish Borders as a result of its new integrated Children’s Services. Excluding these additional staff, the total number of WTE staff employed would have been 40,739, a fall of 2.3% compared with the comparable figure the previous year. ( Table 1)
- In October 2010, there were 5,201 WTE qualified social workers, a fall of 0.6% compared with October 2009. ( Table 2)
- The average (median) age for staff in filled posts in October 2010 was 47 years old. This was the same as in October 2009, but higher than the average (median) age of 45 years old in October 2004. The average (median) age was highest for Senior Mangers, etc. (50 years old) and lowest for Trainee Social Workers (39 years old). ( Table 3)
- It is estimated that 5.7% of all posts were vacant as at October 2010, compared to 7.0% in October 2009. This is based on the 27 out of 32 local authorities who provided vacancy information ( Table 4).
- Only 28% of all reported vacancies were known to be in the process of being filled at the time of Census (nb. for 29% of all vacancies reported, information as to whether the vacant post was in the process of being filled or not was not provided).
- It is estimated that 4.8% of all social worker posts were vacant as at October 2010, compared with 6.8% in October 2009. ( Table 4).
- Only 47% of all reported social worker vacancies were known to be in the process of being filled at the time of Census (nb. for 25% of all social worker vacancies reported, information as to whether the vacant social worker post was in the process of being filled or not was not provided).”
