Council considers bursaries to attract social workers

Oxfordshire
social services wants to offer £2,000 to students on social work diploma
courses in a bid to combat staff shortages.  

To
receive the £2,000 bursary, students have to commit to working for Oxfordshire
social services for two years following the end of their course.

"Like
a lot of social services departments, we are having difficulties retaining and
recruiting staff," said Vicky Field, personnel and planning manager for
Oxfordshire County Council Social Services department.

Oxfordshire
County Council hopes to offset the cost of the bursaries through cost savings
on advertising. The council will also be raising its maximum pay scale from
£22,194 to £23,259.

A
social services committee will vote on the proposals on 19 December.

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

By
Karen Higginbottom