WIREDGOV

Councils are working hard to develop their staff and offer the best value-for-money services during the recession, the latest Local Government Workforce Survey has found.

The latest findings show that the number of councils with recruitment and retention difficulties has reduced dramatically:

• only 52 per cent of councils reported any difficulties, compared to 83 per cent last year and 93 per cent in 2004
• problems in recruiting staff in school crossing patrols, planning and environmental health have all fallen.

The majority of authorities are taking actions to help develop and make the best of their talent:

• 71 per cent of councils are now accredited with Investors in People (IiP) for the whole authority, up from 51per cent in 2001
• 89 per cent are providing ‘grow your own’ schemes, supporting staff in developing higher level skills
• 66 per cent have redesigned jobs to make the best use of scarce skills in the face of current pressures
• 91 per cent have participated in or planned leadership development, either on their own or in partnership.

Most councils are also getting involved as employers in helping to tackle local unemployment:

• 54 per cent have signed up to their Local Employment Partnership and are placing vacancies with Jobcentre Plus
• 95 per cent are offering regular work experience schemes with local schools and colleges.

Although overall recruitment and retention has improved, recruiting social workers has become more difficult:

• 72 per cent of authorities with recruitment and retention difficulties have problems in recruiting children’s social workers, up from 64 per cent in 2008
• just under half of those with recruitment and retention difficulties reported problems in recruiting adult care social workers, up from 36 per cent in 2008, and a third are finding it hard to recruit mental health social workers, a slight rise from 25 per cent in 2008.

The Local Government Association (LGA) Group is working closely with the government’s social work taskforce to support authorities in tackling their recruitment difficulties.

Sir Steve Bullock, chairman of the LGA’s human resources panel, said:

“There has been huge progress in addressing local government’s shared workforce issues. Many of the important occupational skills shortages that have bedevilled local government are reducing, and we are taking action to support authorities in dealing with their difficulties in recruiting social workers.

“The actions authorities are taking are helping to ensure that we are developing the right workforce, with the right skills, to achieve our long-term ambitions.

“More and more authorities are demonstrating good practice as employers in helping to tackle local unemployment.

“Councils are working hard to make sure taxpayers are getting the very most for their money in these hard-pressed times.”

The number of councils implementing or considering a total rewards approach – adding components such as learning and development into employees’ benefits package – has dropped to 28 per cent. Of those that have introduced a total rewards approach, the most common features were offering flexible leave or other flexible benefits.

The survey shows the first figures on the number of councils – 32 per cent – using a remuneration committee to oversee the reward package for chief executives and senior staff. The committees are recommended by the LGA Group as a way of improving accountability.

Sir Steve added:

"These are tough times for councils as employers. Councils are concentrating on how to ensure they get maximum value for the nearly £60bn they spend each year on pay and other employment costs. Reform of pay and reward systems is continuing but in a way that is targeted on controlling costs, while finding ways to motivate and retain the people we need to deliver the best services for local people."

What councils can do to build on their progress will be discussed at the Local Government Workforce Leaders conference next month.

Full report – on the LGA website.

Notes to editors

1. The Local Government Workforce Leaders conference is being held on 10 December in London.
   Local Government Workforce Leaders conference website
2. The LGA Group conducts an annual Local Government Workforce Survey to find out how councils are progressing in addressing their workforce issues and where further national and regional support needs to be directed to ensure they are able to fully tackle these issues.
3. The workforce survey focuses on the critical shared workforce issues highlighted in the Local Government Workforce Strategy.
   Local Government Workforce Strategy  
4. The survey was conducted by the LGA Group’s Analysis and Research team, on behalf of the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) and Local Government Employers (LGE).
5. All heads of human resources – or equivalent position – in England were asked to complete the online survey between June and August 2009. The final response rate achieved was 58 per cent, 206 authorities.
6. Full report – on the LGA website.
7. A separate LGA press release on social worker recruitment difficulties is available.
   LGA press release

Further information

Contact:

Deborah Lewis
telephone: 020 7664 3332
email: deborah.lewis@idea.gov.uk