Growth and development.pdf

ShetlandStaff6. StaffingManagers & central staff 23 1.0 1 24 1.1 1Frontline staff 204 9.0 1 233 10.4 1Other 53 2.3 1 51 2.3 1Total 280 12.3 1 308 13.7 1VacanciesWTE1999actualWTE1999per 1,000Vacancies2000 % Vacancies2000Quartile1999% Vacancies2000ScotlandWTE2000actualWTE2000per 1,000Vacancies2001 % Vacancies2001Quartile2000% Vacancies2001ScotlandSWs with adults 0 0 7.8 5 52.9 10.9SWs with children 0 0 7.4 1 12.0 10.7SWs with offenders 0 0 7.5 1 14.1 7.2Generic workers 1 8.0 8.0 0 0 12.7Total 1 5.4 7.7 6 25.7 10.5Total staffing rates are high, having increased between 1999 and 2000. There are high rates ofboth managers and frontline staff.Vacancy levels are high. In spring 2002 the Social Care Service had 6.5 social worker vacanciesamong the 23 posts in the three teams, with particular gaps in childcare staffing. In the longerterm the community planning board has set up a working group to consider the cross-cuttingissues that affect recruitment and retention of staff, and to recommend appropriate measures.There are growing problems in recruiting home care staff. Unemployment is low and otherpotential employers in both private and public sectors compete for labour.7. Modernising servicesShetland has a multi-cultural environment which features a small resident Asian and Chinesepopulation, seafaring people of many countries and some asylum seekers. The communityplanning board, which includes NHS Shetland and the Council, is now preparing an action plan.E-government has not been a specific priority of Shetland Islands Council. This is changing andthere is now a vision for a modern, fast communications network, with extensive use of e-mailinternally and externally, internet and intranet sites, and a number of other active initiatives suchas video-conferencing and document management.Social work services need urgently to replace the current information system, and steps arebeing taken to commission new systems for social work services, housing and SupportingPeople, for implementation by mid-2003. The systems are also to link social work, health andeducation information.231