Liz Wheatley UNISON NEC rep for London sending solidarity to our mental health social workers strikers

Introduction.

Barnet UNISON is a proud active fighting UNISON branch with a long history of backing our members when they want to fight back.

We have been consistently one of the highest recruiting UNISON branches in London and recently achieved a lawful strike ballot on in the UNISON National Pay ballot.

When are members are in dispute it is important that strikers receive support from others within the wider UNISON family and across the trade union movement.

Below is a message of support for our Barnet UNISON strikers.

 

UPDATED : Barnet Council the Tale of “Three Chief Executives and one plumber”

Barnet Council is unique in that unlike other London Councils it has three chief executives.

The reason for having three chief executives belongs to a period when the Tories controlled Barnet Council from 2002 to 2022. In that time they embarked on a mass outsourcing project called “easy Council” later renamed as “One Barnet” (see background information for historical information).

On 17 September 2024 Barnet UNISON issued the following statement in response to the Council briefing to staff about the financial crisis facing the Council.

You can read our statement here

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/09/17/statement-on-barnet-council-finances/


UPDATED: Chief Executive Salary details.

Barnet UNISON has received a couple of emails on behalf of some of the Chief Executives to say that we are quoting the wrong figures.

We have this to say:

Barnet UNISON fully supports the:

Localism Act 2011 – Openness and accountability in local pay

1.1. Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to publish an annual pay policy statement.

In the Pay Policy document that is published annually the Council set out the reasons why they publish the salaries of certain Council posts.

You can view the relevant paragraph below and here is the link

https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pay_policy_statement_2024_2025.pdf

Related Remuneration and Transparency Context

1.5. The Council follows the transparency requirements on remuneration as set out in the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 issued in February 2015 by the then Department for Communities and Local Government; and specific guidance relevant to the Localism Act issued by the Department in February 2012 and February 2013.

 1.6. The Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency includes publishing information relating to salaries over £58,200. Similarly, the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 stipulates that salaries over £50,000 should be published. In order to comply with both Codes, the Council publishes a summary of posts that are paid more than £50,000. The summary is available on the website of the Council and is periodically updated.

We note that paragraph 1.4 states:

“This statement only relates to the remuneration of staff directly employed and managed by the Council of the London Borough of Barnet. It does not cover school-based employees or those working for partner organisations.”

The Barnet Group (TBG) and Barnet Education and Learning Skills (BELS) are 100% owned by the London Borough of Barnet.


In one of the emails sent to Barnet UNISON we have been informed that LBB HR is happy to provide the correct figures for salaries in both BELS and TBG.

In terms of the error in our reporting which we are correcting it is important to note that when we published the salaries of the three chief executives we included a link with the source of the information. We did this to make sure we were linking to the correct documents in relation to pay in TBG and BELS.

Barnet UNISON has now reviewed the details and confirm that we incorrectly reported the wrong figures from the two separate documents and we have amended the details below reporting the exact wording.  


1. UPDATED: Barnet Council Chief Executive salary £201,456 to £212,685

(Source: https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/pay_policy_statement_2024_2025.pdf )

UPDATED: We want to ensure transparency and therefore we have requested that the oncosts for the above post are provided so that our readers can see the actual costs per posts.

 

2. UPDATED: The Barnet Group (TBG) Chief Executive salary.

Please see amended correct costs related to this post as reported in the document below.

“The highest paid director cost £218,643 including £16,132 of contributions to a defined benefit scheme on the same employees (2023: £211,477).”

(Source: https://thebarnetgroup.org/download/the-barnet-group-financial-statements-2023-24/ )

 

3. UPDATED: Barnet Education and Learning Skills (BELS) Chief Executive salary

(Source: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12724128/filing-history )

Please see amended correct cost below

“Remuneration disclosed above include the following amounts paid to the highest paid director”

“Remuneration for qualifying services £138, 304”

“Company pension contributions to defined contribution schemes £33,368”

 

4. UPDATED: The Barnet Group: Plummer role salary £36,029.40 plus £3,270 Market Supplement active until July 2025. Barnet UNISON understands that there are 9 plumber roles with eight agency and only one permanent member of staff. We do not know the rate of pay for the agency plumbers. Barnet Council has 13,000 council homes.

Barnet UNISON is awaiting details of the oncosts for the role of the plumber.


The first thing to reflect upon as the Council seeks to address the serious financial; crisis is that no other London Council can afford three chief executives.

The second thing to consider is that there needs to be the same transparency extended to TBG and BELS and therefore Barnet UNISON has asked Barnet Council to apply the Localism Act 2011 – Openness and accountability in local pay 1.1. Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to publish an annual pay policy statement to TBG and BELS in order that there is transparency across all organisations 100% owned by Barnet Council.

Third and most important thing is that to date Barnet UNISON has not had a response to our savings proposals. It is interesting to note that the Council has reacted very quickly to our report on the pay of the most senior officers of the Council but to date has not even acknowledged our proposals to save money and avoid impacting on staff and services.


A recap on our proposals

 

1. Agency/Consultancy spend.

As a result of learning that Barnet Council spent £20 million on agency/consultants in 2023 UNISON is called for an urgent review of agency/consultancy usage and for the details to be broken down across each service area. No response.

Update: Total Agency payments year to date on 31 August 2024 is £11,950,348.29

 

2. One Chief Executive not three: plus, a senior management review.

UNISON proposes that for starters Barnet Council deletes two chief executive roles as part of the major review of all senior management roles starting from Head of Service, Assistant Directors, Directors, Executive Directors before any decisions are taken about cutting vacancies/redundancies, raising charges and or cutting services to residents. No response.

 

3. Back Office services review.

UNISON proposes an urgent review of all back-office services (including those provided by Capita) with the aim for Barnet Council to be the sole provider of back office services for Barnet Council, TBG and BELS. No response.

 

4. Capita spend.

As a result of learning that Barnet Council spent paid £24 million to Capita in 2023 Barnet UNISON has asked for these payments and future payments to Capita to be subjected to the same level of scrutiny as other in-house services. We are asking that Capita payments should be included in the external review of spending. No response.

Update: Total Capita Payments Year to date 31 August 2024 is £17,256,413.78

 

5. UPDATE Review Passenger Transport Service

There are two parts to this proposal.

Several years a decision was made to change the way the service was managed and monitored. Barnet Council outsourced the Education Service in 2016 and created a service which was to monitor and take responsibility for some elements of PTS service e.g use of agency staff (drivers and coach escorts).

A couple years ago another decision was made to hand over the line management of the coach escorts.

This decision made no sense. There are two staff in a team (driver and coach escort) yet this decision meant that there are now two different line managers. Other than ideological reasons about outsourcing this does not make sense. Furthermore, what is clear is that by operating this model of delivery it appears it has led to an increase in staffing where role of monitoring and delivering has also become blurred.

This is a frontline service for vulnerable adults and children with special educational needs. There are issues in which there are allegations/incidents that need investigating. There are examples when there is an investigation with two employers and two different HR staff involved two sets of line managers for what in the past would have been handled by one line manager and one HR member of staff.

Our proposal is as follows

  • Line management of the coach escorts is returned to LBB.
  • Secondly a review of the service take place to look at bringing the PTS back as one service within the Council.

6. Offer to lobby Keir Starmer with Barnet Council

Barnet UNISON is willing to visit Downing Street and lobby for more funding for Barnet Council with the Leader of Barnet Council. No response

 

What do we know?

There are spending control meetings taking place.

Council have announced that tea and coffee is being withdrawn from council workplaces.

Flue Jab: th enumber of flu jabs that is on offer to staff has been reduced this year due to the financial crisis.

Some feedback from members that the council is trying to cut back on payments to individuals. We are dealing with a few cases. If you are being told something is being withdrawn due to the crisis, please contact the branch at contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

 

Key meeting date for noting.

On Monday 18 November 2024 Cabinet Committee  7pm Hendon Town Hall.

At this committee there will be a discussion about the financial recovery plan.

End.

Background information.

Below are links to explain the history behind the mass ideological experiment which was unleashed on Barnet Council staff and residents 14 years ago.

100 PLUS reasons why One Barnet is high risk and bad for residents and services

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2012/08/28/100-plus-reasons-why-one-barnet-is-high-risk-and-bad-for-residents-and-services/

 

Barnet Casino – animation explaining mass outsourcing ideology aka easycouncil

https://youtu.be/o6I9kP6nCMg?feature=shared

 

What is The Barnet Group?

Barnet UNISON animation explaining the creation of The Barnet Group

  1. https://youtu.be/m7wB0hY45Rk?feature=shared
  2. https://youtu.be/oN6cxEjMXhk?feature=shared

Barnet Council and The Barnet Group cut tea and coffee to staff

Barnet Council announced last week that they would be ending tea and coffee for their staff in the workplace. The Barnet Group a local authority trading company 100% owned by Barnet Council has made the same statement to their staff.

 

“Things must be bad to if the employer believes that this cut will help address the financial crisis facing Barnet Council. How much is this really going to save? This message is not going down well with staff across both employers. Our members are more interested in whether the Council has a grip on millions they keep handing over to Agencies and Consultants (£20 million last year) or the millions given to Capita (£24 million) last year. The Council need to rethink this decision.” John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON.

UNISON National Pay ballot : Frequently Asked Questions 2024

1. What was the UNISON pay claim?

UNISON, alongside the other Local Government trade unions Unite and GMB, submitted a claim for an increase of £3,000 or 10%, whichever is the highest at every pay point. In addition, the claim also included a 2 hour reduction in the working week with no pay detriment, an additional day annual leave, and reviews of discriminatory pay gaps

 

2. What did the employers offer?

The employers offered an increase of £1,481 or 2.5%, whichever is the highest and rejected everything else.

 

3. Why is UNISON balloting us?

Yet again, the pay offer from our employers is another pay cut in real terms. We’ve had years of pay cuts and we have to say enough is enough. School and council workers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are being balloted.

 

4. When will I get my ballot paper?

The ballot opened on 4 September. Ballot papers will start arriving over the next few days – they are being sent out in batches because there’s about 360,000 UNISON members in schools and councils!

 

5. Is UNISON recommending how to vote?

Yes, and YES! UNISON has rejected the employers offer, and is recommending to all members to vote YES for strike action

 

6. Shouldn’t UNISON be negotiating first?

UNISON reps spent weeks negotiating with the employers, but they wouldn’t increase their offer. So now we need to make it clear how serious we are about getting a decent pay rise.

 

7. Will my vote really make a difference?

Definitely – every single vote will make a difference. That’s because we have some really restrictive anti-union laws – so we can’t vote online, and over 50% of members must vote.

 

8. How will I know when I get my ballot paper?

It will arrive in an A5 bright purple envelope, it will have the UNISON logo on the front and will also say in large letters Stand Together For Better Pay, Council and School Pay 2024 on the front. It should be hard to miss!

 

9. How do I vote?

In the bright purple envelope, you will have a ballot paper – you put a X in one of the boxes (preferably YES) and then use the pre-paid, pre-addressed envelope to post the paper back to CES who are running the ballot for UNISON.

 

10. When do I need to return my ballot paper?

Your ballot paper must be returned before 16 October 10am. CES need to have received it by then, so really just complete and post it back as soon as you receive it.

 

11. What if I don’t get a ballot paper?

If you haven’t had a ballot paper by 17 September, then call the Hotline immediately on 0800 0857 857 and they will check your address and send out a replacement paper

 

12. I’ve heard people say it’s a disaggregated ballot? What’s that?

A disaggregated ballot means that we are all being balloted by employer. So for instance in Barnet, we have over 20 separate ballots – some smaller ones in schools that pay NJC pay, plus one for council workers and school workers still employed by Barnet. This is the same in every branch in the country. We need to get over 50% in as many of those ballots as possible.

 

13. If a workmate joins now will they get a ballot paper?

Someone not already in UNISON has until 3 October to join if they want to have a vote. They can join here: Join UNISON and get essential cover

 

14. Can people not in UNISON go on strike?

Yes, but we would always encourage someone to be in a union if they are going to strike. Plus, they wouldn’t be eligible for any strike pay unless they join the union taking strike action!

 

15. Can agency/contract workers join and strike?

Yes, agency workers can join UNISON and can go on strike

 

16. Will I get strike pay?

UNISON pays £50 a day strike pay. This amount can be changed depending on how many members are taking strike action. As soon as the ballot result is known, there will be discussions and decisions made about where strikes will be and about strike pay. If we get over 50% turnout and a YES vote for action, we will keep you updated about strike dates and pay. Details on how to claim it will be available when needed.

 

17. If we strike, we’ll lose money even with strike pay. Is it worth striking?

When we take strike action, we win more money overall than we lose. We know it’s difficult to lose money, but without taking action we know we’ll be worse off this year already. However, if we stand together, get the vote out and fight back, we can win more.

 

18. When we win, will the pay be backdated?

Yes, back to 1 April 2024

 

19. Do you know when we’ll get the money?

That will depend on when the employers give in and agree to our pay claim!

 

20. If someone isn’t in UNISON will they also get the pay rise?

Yes, but we have more chance of getting a better pay rise if we are stronger, so ask anyone not in UNISON to join and get involved to help us win for everyone!

 

21. Where can I find out more?

You can come to the visit the Barnet UNISON media channels where we are publishing updated information about the strike ballot on a regular basis.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/barnet_unison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarnetUNISON

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnetunison/

Website:  https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/

 

End.

 

Press Release: Mass exodus of mental health social workers risks total collapse of services.

Barnet UNISON mental health social workers dispute with Barnet Council since 1 September 2023 has been over the failure to agree a recruitment and retention payment due to high turnover of staff across three mental health social worker teams.

On Monday 15 July 2024 UNISON wrote to Barnet Council suspending strike action and agreeing to go into talks to try and resolve the dispute.

Unfortunately talks broke down as it became clear in the meeting that Barnet Council was not prepared to reconsider their position.

The following facts provide a glimpse of the scale of the crisis facing Barnet Council.

  • 50% of the permanent workforce will have left one of the three mental health social work team workforce since 1 January 2024.
  • 31 mental health social workers will have left one of the three mental health social work teams in the last two years.
  • 12 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team North in the last two years.
  • 19 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team South in the last two years.
  • Did you know that 40% of AMHPs have left the AMHP team in the last two months.
  • 100% of AMHPs across the North and South mental health teams resigned and left the Council by the end of August 2024.
  • In July 2023 Barnet Council informed UNISON that they had a budget of £266k to resolve this dispute.
  • In a meeting with Acas in March 2024 with UNISON they doubled their budget to £532k.
  • It would cost £150k to settle this dispute

You can read more facts about this dispute here on our website http://All you need to know about Barnet UNISON mental health social worker strike https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/09/04/all-you-need-to-know-about-barnet-unison-mental-health-social-worker-strike/

 

At our last meeting with Barnet Council our reps informed senior management that they were leaving because it had become clear that Barnet Council does not value their staff or service users. Our members strongly believe that it is not safe to practice as a mental health social worker in the three frontline mental health teams.

“It has become apparently clear that Barnet Council has chosen confrontation rather than negotiation to resolve this high-profile dispute. It is not about the money because we know there is a pot three times bigger than what would be needed to bring this dispute to a close. The sheer scale of the numbers of social workers leaving these three teams should have set alarm bells ringing with senior management. The fact that they appear unconcerned about the risks of the chronic levels of turnover has left mental health social workers feeling deeply unsafe. We still have some members who are currently still working but feeling very scared about what could happen in terms of risks. Failure to end this dispute will leave Barnet Council exposed as an uncaring and unsafe workplace for mental health social workers.

I have recently reached out to the Chief Executive and Leader of Barnet Council to come back with a revised offer which may be able to retain some of the current staff and encourage experienced mental health social workers to come and work for Barnet.

Until there is a credible offer the Barnet UNISON mental health social worker dispute remains live and we will continue to report on the dispute. It is our duty to advocate for a safe working environment for our members and no one will silence our voice for our members.” (John Burgess, Branch Secretary, Barnet UNISON).

 

Notes to Editors.

Contact details: Barnet UNISON branch on 0208 359 2088 to leave a message on our voicemail or email: contactus@barnetunison.org.uk

Background:

1. ‘It’s Soul Destroying’: Why Barnet Social Workers Are on Strike.

https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/06/its-soul-destroying-why-barnet-social-workers-are-on-strike

2. Euphoria felled by reality and scant ambition – I have seen what could be Labour’s future | Aditya Chakrabortty | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/02/euphoria-reality-labour-future-thatcher-tory

3. Mental health social workers consider striking over staffing levels. 20 June 2023

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/06/20/mental-health-social-workers-consider-striking-over-staffing-levels/

4. Strike ballot opens for mental health social workers. 8 August 2023.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/08/08/strike-ballot-opens-for-mental-health-social-workers/

5. Mental health social workers vote to strike over ‘chronic staffing issues’ 6 September 2023.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/09/06/mental-health-social-workers-vote-to-strike-over-chronic-staffing-issues/

6. Social workers to take 26 days’ further strike action in pay and staffing dispute.26 October 2023.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/10/26/social-workers-to-take-26-days-further-strike-action-in-pay-and-staffing-dispute/

7. Inside a social work strike: the staff fighting for a ‘safe service’ 31 October 2023.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2023/10/31/inside-a-social-work-strike-the-staff-fighting-for-a-safe-service/

8.Social workers re-balloted on striking after 27 days of action leaves pay dispute unresolved. 18 February 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/02/18/social-workers-re-balloted-on-striking-after-27-days-of-action-leaves-pay-dispute-unresolved/

9. Social workers to take nine more weeks of strike action as talks fail to resolve dispute.

8 March 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/03/08/social-workers-to-take-nine-more-weeks-of-strike-action-as-talks-fail-to-resolve-dispute/

10. Firm pulls out of providing service for council that union claims would have broken social work strike. 17 April 2024

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/04/17/firm-pulls-out-of-providing-service-for-council-that-union-claims-would-have-broken-social-work-strike/

11. Social workers reject council offer to settle dispute after more than 40 days of strike action. 16 May 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/16/social-workers-reject-council-offer-to-settle-dispute-after-more-than-40-days-of-strike-action/

12. Social workers escalate dispute with nine-week walkout. 17 May 2024

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/17/social-workers-escalate-dispute-with-nine-week-walkout/

13. Council to buy in service to cover social workers during 9-week strike. 21 May 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/21/council-to-buy-in-service-to-cover-social-workers-during-9-week-strike/

14. Union threatens court action over council plan to cover social work strike.

24 May 2024

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/05/24/union-threatens-court-action-over-council-plan-to-cover-social-work-strike/

15. Council outsources mental health service to cover social work strike 10 June 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/06/10/council-outsources-mental-health-service-to-cover-social-work-strike/

16. Mental health social workers pose greatest recruitment and retention challenge for adults’ services. 25 June 2024.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/06/25/mental-health-social-workers-pose-greatest-recruitment-and-retention-challenge-for-adults-services/

17. Mental health social workers return to work after nine-week strike 16 July 2024

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2024/07/16/mental-health-social-workers-return-to-work-after-nine-week-strike/

18. ****This is where it all began in Barnet Council in 2016****

Council sheds qualified social worker posts to save money. 22 November 2016.

https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2016/11/22/council-sheds-qualified-social-worker-posts-save-money/

19.

 

All you need to know about Barnet UNISON mental health social worker strike

Background.

There are three mental health social work teams in this dispute.

  • Mental Health Social Work North Team = 13 staff.
  • Mental Health Social Work South Team = 14 staff.
  • Approved Mental Health Professional Team (AMHP) = 5 staff

Barnet UNISON mental health social workers dispute with Barnet Council since 1 September 2023 has been over the failure to agree a recruitment and retention payment due to high turnover of staff across three mental health social worker teams.

On Monday 15 July 2024 UNISON wrote to Barnet Council suspending strike action and agreeing to go into talks to try and resolve the dispute.

Unfortunately talks broke down as it became clear in the meeting that Barnet Council was not prepared to reconsider their position.

This report seeks to provide information about the dispute which is now one of the longest running disputes in UNISON’s history.

*As this dispute is still ongoing this article will be continuously updated.

 

Leaver’s data.

1. Did you know 50% of the permanent workforce will have left the three mental health social work teams workforce since 1 January 2024.

 

2. Did you know that 31 mental health social workers will have left one of the mental health social work teams in the last two years.

 

3. Did you know that 12 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team North in the last two years.

 

4. Did you know that 17 mental health social workers have left the mental health social work team South in the last two years.

 

5. Did you know that the mental health social work team South has no AMHPs.

 

6. Did you know that mental health social work team North has no AMHPs as from 1 September 2024.

 

7. Did you know that only one out of a mental health social work team management team of four is an AMHP.

 

8. Did you know that two out of four managers mental health social work teams have no previous experience of working in mental health services.

 

9.Did you know that by the end of August 2024 of the four Lead Practitioner (LP) posts across North and South mental health social work teams there will be two vacancies, leaving only one LP with experience working as a mental health social worker and one LP with no previous experience working as a mental health social worker.

 

10. Did you know that 40% of AMHPs have left the AMHP team in the last two months.

 

11. Did you know that there are only 3 AMHPs across the three mental health social work team teams.

 

12. Did you know that there are only 3 social workers left out of 14 who were in the mental health social work team North on 11 August 2022. Nine of the social workers have left. This represents 80% of the team. Please note that this team only employed social workers. Barnet Council introduced unqualified staff into the team in 2023 when social workers started to leave.

 

13. Did you know that there are only 3 social workers left out of 14 who were in the mental health social work team South on 11 August 2022. Nine of the social workers have left. This represents 80% of the team. Please note that this team only employed social workers. Barnet Council introduced unqualified staff into the team in 2023 when social workers started to leave.

 

Service user issues

1. Did you know that every time a social worker (either permanent or locum) leaves this means further disruption for mental health service users.

 

2. Did you know that there is still a 17-month waitlist for service users with mental health problems.

 

Barnet Council

1. Did you know that Barnet Council were asked to provide staff leaving data in July 2023 and only brought some data at a meeting with UNISON in March 2024. The data provided was not evidence of recruitment and retention issues.

 

2. Did you know that in July 2023 Barnet Council informed UNISON that they had a budget of £266k to resolve this dispute.

 

3. Did you know in a meeting with Acas in March 2024 with UNISON they doubled that figure to £532k.

 

4. Did you know that Barnet Council said they could easily settle our dispute because it was cheaper.

 

5. Did you know that it would cost £150k to settle this dispute?

 

6. Did you know that it took Barnet Council seven months before they would agree to a meeting with UNISON and Acas.

 

7. Did you know that in July 2024 UNISON wrote to Barnet Council suspending strike action. In that meeting with the knowledge that another 25% of permanent social workers had handed in their notice, Barnet Council brought no revised offer to the negotiating table.

 

8. Did you know that Barnet Council used a recruitment agency to strike break. They deny it was strike breaking arguing they outsourced the service. There has been no consultation about outsourcing services with UNISON.

 

9. Did you know that Barnet Council carried out a restructure of mental health social work teams. A report entitled “Adults Social Care Mental Health Service Restructure Consultation Report and Final Proposals, July 2022” was shared with staff.

Two years on and this is the list of their 17 outstanding actions:

  • There will be further consultation and engagement with staff to review team criteria; improve processes and pathways; and ensure there are effective ways to work alongside health colleagues for the benefit of the residents we support.
  • Move of MH Front Door to SCD – suggested this is postponed until referrals criteria are confirmed and training for SCD staff is provided on this basis
  • To develop and implement a retention strategy for mental health social work staff
  • To review existing staffing ratios in mental health service to ensure sufficiency and that teams can operate safely and will not be at risk of burn out.
  • Further need for data cleansing (those noted on Mosaic as having a mental health as a primary need are accurately recorded as such) and addressing backlog of updating contacts in Mosaic
  • Co-production with people we support to find out what they think and what changes are necessary.

Ideas to explore further in transformation process:

  • A multi-agency crisis team
  • Staff specifically dedicated to conducting Care and Support Plan reviews
  • Specialist worker for carrying out CHC checklist or using existing resources in CHC.

Risk highlighted:

  • End of Think -Ahead Students placements impacting negatively on capacity (students are currently holding large number of cases)
  • Backlog of reviews.

 

  • Gaps in service availability need to be addressed by the commissioning plan.
  • Additional business support resource was added to the original proposal.
  • The transfer of the MH front door to SCD has been postponed until September, to ensure criteria are clear and staff have been trained on this basis.
  • Further work will be undertaken as part of the workforce strategy and business planning process to look at the capacity of teams across adult social care given the pressures of demand that the service faces.
  • Duty arrangements will need to be finalised and discussed with managers and staff to reflect the move of initial contact to SCD.
  • Mental Health Teams wished to maintain access to Rio.

 

Publicity about the dispute.

1. Did you know that Community Care published 15 articles about this dispute which you can read here on our web site.

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2024/07/29/barnet-council-mental-health-social-worker-recruitment-crisis-community-care/

 

2. Did you know that UNISON wrote to CQC outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FINAL-LETTER-TO-CQC.pdf

 

3. Did you know that UNISON wrote to Association of Directors of Social Services (ADASS) outlining our serious concerns about  the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/FINAL-LETTER-TO-ADASS.pdf

 

4. Did you know that UNISON wrote to Social Work England outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FINAL-LETTER-TO-SWE.docx

 

5. Did you know that UNISON wrote to Executive Director of Adult Social Care Dawn Wakeling outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2023/11/16/open-letter-to-executive-director-of-adult-social-care-mental-health-social-work-dispute/

 

6. Did you know that UNISON wrote to Director of Adult Social Care James Mass outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2023/11/16/open-letter-to-director-of-adult-social-care-mental-health-social-work-dispute/

 

7. Did you know that UNISON wrote to Leader of Labour controlled Barnet Council Barry Rawlings outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2023/11/15/open-letter-to-cllr-barry-rawlings-leader-of-barnet-council/

 

8. Did you know that UNISON produced a community newspaper (Barnet VOICE) for Barnet residents outlining our serious concerns about the crisis unfolding across mental health social work teams

https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Barnet-Voice-4-v08.pdf

 

9. Did you know that 20,000 community newspapers were delivered to Barnet residents.

 

10. Did you know that Guardian Journalist Aditya Chakrabortty wrote an article about this dispute entitled “Euphoria felled by reality and scant ambition – I have seen what could be Labour’s future | Aditya | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/02/euphoria-reality-labour-future-thatcher-tory

 

11. Did you know the Tribune newspaper covered the dispute in this article. ‘It’s Soul Destroying’: Why Barnet Social Workers Are on Strike. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2024/06/its-soul-destroying-why-barnet-social-workers-are-on-strike

 

12. Did you know that an Early day motion was submitted about the Barnet UNISON mental health social worker dispute which you can view here https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/61831/barnet-mental-health-union-dispute

 

13. Did you know that hundreds of trade union members have signed a public statement calling upon the Leader of Barnet Council, Cllr Barry Rawlings to stop the use of agency workers to strike break. View statement here

https://bit.ly/barnetstrike

 

 

End.

Opinion: UNISON will stand up to the politics of hate

Opinion: UNISON will stand up to the politics of hate

Christina McAnea says: “We will work with other unions across the country to call for an end to violence, intimidation and discrimination. Unity is our strength”

The racist rioting and violence led and organised over social media by the far right last week and over the weekend has horrified many of us.

Sickening scenes of mobs laughing and cheering as buildings housing vulnerable asylum seekers were set on fire were both terrifying and shameful.

The homes of those judged to be immigrants were attacked street by street. People were targeted and beaten up solely because of the colour of their skin.

Mosques were attacked and besieged. Islamophobia plain for all to see. Nazi salutes, racist chants and violent language have polluted the streets of many towns and cities.

Public service workers, including nurses rushing in to provide emergency cover at a hospital, had missiles thrown at them. Several police officers have been injured trying to stand up to the mob and prevent arson, assaults and the violence spreading.

Most repellent of all has been the excuse used by the far right that the rioting is a direct consequence of the terrible tragedy in Southport where three little girls were murdered and their families and a community were left grieving.

The far right and those they’ve misled are using the Southport tragedy to scapegoat Muslim people, asylum seekers, in fact anyone who doesn’t look like them.

When the facts didn’t match, the far right changed the facts. In the name of “justice”, shops have been looted, a library and a citizens advice bureau burned down, bricks, bottles and other missiles have been thrown at the police, and local communities terrified.

The mob has struck fear into the hearts of millions of people who are now anxious for the safety of themselves and their families at the hands of racist thugs draped in the union jack.

The far right is returning to street violence, reminiscent of the past but given renewed impetus and power by social media and the internet.

The politics of hate didn’t just show up though. The rioters have been given encouragement by politicians, some in the mainstream. There will be those who seek to use this violence to advance the politics of hate. UNISON will challenge them too.

That means standing up to these vile people wherever and whenever they show up with their ugly politics and racist hate. They do not speak for us.

We will support our members who are attacked by racists whether that’s when they’re at work or walking through their local community. We will defend migrant people in this country, many working in essential public services. They deserve thanks not racist attacks.

Tommy Robinson and his loathsome brand of politics have nothing to offer but division and hate. They destroy communities, they don’t speak for them.

That is why UNISON is determined to challenge the politics of hate. Our members will lead the way, as they do, day in day out in our communities and in workplaces.

The union movement is united in this. We will work with other unions across the country to call for an end to violence, intimidation and discrimination. Unity is our strength.

 

End.

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