Decision details

In order to increase capacity and enable the retention of experienced workers in the targeted Early Help district teams until 31/3/25, the report seeks approval to increase the number of Senior Family Workers to 35 by:
• Replacing five agency Family Workers for which there is approval to 31/12/22 with five fixed term Senior Family Workers to 31/3/25
• Extend the contracts of five Senior Family Workers on fixed term contracts by 12 months to 31/3/25
• Deleting five posts of Family Worker (Grade 5) and replacing these with five Senior Family Worker posts (Grade 6).

RESOLVED - That: The following changes be implemented in the targeted Early Help District Teams:
1. Replace five agency staff with contracts to 31/12/22 with five Senior Family Workers (Grade 6) on fixed term contracts to 31/3/25;
2. Extending the contracts of five Senior Family Workers on fixed term contracts to 31/3/24 by a further 12 months to 31/3/25; and
3. Deleting five posts of Family Worker (Grade 5) and replacing them with five posts of Senior Family Worker (Grade 6), with the staff in these posts slotted into the more senior roles.

Option 1 - Do Nothing
Option 2 - Implement changes as proposed.
Option 3 – Do not replace 5 agency workers with staff on fixed term contracts to 31/3/25
Option 4 – Do not extend the contracts of 5 staff on fixed term contracts currently ending on 31/3/24
Option 5 – Do not replace the 5 Family Worker posts with Senior Family Workers

Option 1 - Do Nothing
Option 3 – Do not replace 5 agency workers with staff on fixed term contracts to 31/3/25
Option 4 – Do not extend the contracts of 5 staff on fixed term contracts currently ending on 31/3/24
Option 5 – Do not replace the 5 Family Worker posts with Senior Family Workers

Children's Services DMT have been consulted on the proposals