Mar 24 - GSD Concerned About “Low Morale” At Care Agency
The GSD is concerned that 51 care workers and 7 social workers are amongst a total of 74 members of staff that have resigned from the Care Agency since this Government came into office in December 2011 arguing that this demonstrates a “high level of dissatisfaction” and “low morale” at the Care Agency.
Revealed in answers to Written Questions in Parliament, asked by Shadow Minister Isobel Ellul-Hammond, the Opposition says it is stunned to have confirmed the concerns raised my many in the Social Services generally of the “massive discontent” and “unprecedented low morale” in the Care Agency, which has led to a “scarcely believable” 25% turnover of staff in two years, in a Public Sector department.
“The Care Agency has and is continuing to haemorrhage staff and this is of grave concern to us, especially following on from the concerns I raised last month about the staff crisis faced by the ‘Children & Families’ team specifically,” explained Mrs Ellul-Hammond.
Mrs Ellul-Hammond continued: “The way the Minister for Social Services, Ms Sacramento, went on in Parliament about the close relationship she has with her staff flies in the face of these revelations, though we have been hearing about this for some time. Existing and former staff members, union representatives, voluntary/charity and public sector workers are amongst the many who have been talking to us and telling us of the impossibility of working under this new regime. They claim the Minister’s approach lacks empathy, failing to understand the needs of those who work at the Agency and importantly, those the Care Agency works for. Morale it seems is at an all-time low.
“The lack of management training and failure to contingency plan and fill Senior and Care Worker posts is not just hurting the staff directly affected, but our community’s most vulnerable have, in many cases, lost the benefit of a close working relationship with the workers they rely and depend upon. Stability, continuity of care, familiarity and security with a regular group of carers, especially for our Looked After Children and families supported in the community, is under threat if things don’t change and change soon.”
Mrs Ellul-Hammond concluded: “It is very worrying indeed that in such a short space of time our most vulnerable have already lost the familiar faces of seven Social Workers and 51 Care Workers. The Minister should finally implement her Government’s manifesto commitment and engage the relevant professionals to conduct an independent review. An internal review is inadequate under the circumstances and will not achieve the necessary results.”
