Dumfries and Galloway Council social work bosses are anticipating a potential staff exodus in the near future. A significant number of employees responsible for adult services, housing options, and homelessness services in the region are approaching retirement age. According to a recent workforce report presented at the council’s social work committee meeting, out of the 795 staff members in these departments, 252 are aged 55-64, and 30 employees are already 65 or older.
The social work department is facing challenges due to a shortage of resources and difficulties in recruiting essential staff such as social workers and mental health workers. During the committee meeting, concerns were raised about succession planning for the ageing workforce. Councillor Andy McFarlane inquired about the strategies in place for addressing the demographic challenges within the workforce.
Rebecca Aldridge, a senior manager in adult services, explained that the council has been implementing initiatives like in-house training programmes to address recruitment challenges. Programs such as the ‘grow your own’ scheme have been successful in developing staff internally, particularly in roles that are hard to fill, such as the mental health team.
The workforce report highlighted that while there are 701 women and 94 men working in adult services, housing options, and homelessness services, the average length of service is only nine years. This raises further concerns about the potential impact of a large number of employees nearing retirement age on these vital services.
As the council prepares for the possible staff exodus, there is a focus on developing pathways for career progression and offering opportunities for existing staff to take on more senior roles. The commitment to succession planning and internal development was emphasised as crucial for maintaining the delivery of essential services to the community.
In conclusion, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s social work department is proactively addressing the challenges posed by the ageing workforce and is taking steps to ensure continuity and quality in adult services, housing options, and homelessness services for the region in the face of potential staff departures.