1. Welcome Thursday 28 January 2016, 10am – 12:30pm Social Work Agency Provider Briefing

2. Jo Davidson DCS Herefordshire Council and Lead DCS for the Agency Social Work Project Reflections one year in

3. Workforce Analysis; Impact and key themes

4. Data for three quarters is now available, commencing in Q4 of 2014-15 Evolutionary process / Data limitations Helpful indicator – should not be seen as statistically robust Latest data collection August 2015

5. Pay and Reward Little difference between local authorities in the West Midlands with most offering; Access to a pension scheme Flexible working Between 25 and 27 days annual leave Half of the 10 authorities responding said they paid HCPC Registration for their staff

6. National Comparison

7. Regional Usage

8. Regional Usage Over Time

9. Recruitment per Quarter

10. Role Analysis

11. Retention of Agency Staff The qualitative feedback to the quarterly returns for the ‘Social Work Agency Workers Project’ suggest that the introduction may have had an impact on retention of social workers, particularly with candidates staying in their existing roles to maintain their previously higher pay rates.

12. Move to the New Rates In quarter 2 of 2015-16, providers of agency staff were also asked to provide a data return. A total of 3 agencies who provide staff to local authorities in the West Midlands responded. This revealed that a majority of agency workers (70%) are now being paid on the new rates.

13. Summary Slight slowing in the numbers of agency workers being appointed. The majority are Social Workers and Senior Social Workers. The number and quality of applicants has remained largely constant since the protocol came into operation. Agency workers are regularly being appointed at the maximum rate. Only two areas reported the protocol or pay cap causing them problems.

14. Steve Stuart Agency Liaison Manager, Walsall MBC Pay rates for next year and PAYE proposal

15. Steve Stuart Agency Liaison Manager, Walsall MBC Regional Agency Appointment Log & Responsibilities

16. 11:15am – 11:30am Refreshment Break

17. Teresa Murray Specialist Safeguarding Manager, Staffordshire County Council Training & development best practice and regional activity

18. 12.00pm – 12.20pm Q & A Session Looking ahead, opportunities for joint market development and key messages from LAs