Running on empty: increase mileage allowance or risk staff exodus
Published by Professional Social Work magazine, 16 August, 2022
The Scottish government is being urged to provide funding for local authorities to increase the mileage rate for social workers, or risk seeing an exodus from the profession.
The Scottish Association of Social Work (SASW) says staff are virtually having to pay to do their job in the face of an average 30 per cent hike in the price of petrol over the last year.
Most authorities currently pay social workers 45p per mile, the maximum non-taxable rate set by HM Revenue & Customs.
However, SASW is calling for the amount to increase to 60p per mile. The association is also urging the UK government to raise the non-taxable limit to 60p,
“Nobody should be out of pocket for doing their job,” said SASW national director Alison Bavidge.
“Workers are needing to contribute to the cost of doing their work which in many places requires social workers to use their own cars, often to travel long distances.
“The Scottish government has been very open about their desire to improve the wellbeing of the social care and social work workforce.
“Given the last few years of the pandemic and rising cost of living, finding more money for social workers and social care workers would be an effective gesture of recognition.
“It is not just the money, it is also the impact of not feeling your employer values you by failing to do this.
“If it was the private sector, people would say ‘I’m not doing that contract’. Across the UK, we are trying to recruit social workers into the profession yet this erodes terms and conditions significantly. The Scottish and UK governments could do better."
SASW has lobbied Scottish politicians, including Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie and SNP member Stuart McMillan, to support its campaign.
McMillan has since written to the UK Chancellor and Scotland’s finance secretary to highlight the impact of rising fuel prices.
He said: “If home care staff and social workers had to depend upon public transport, they simply wouldn’t be able to offer the same level of support to those who require their services.
“Half their day would be spent on public transport – and if you’re in a rural setting, the only option may well be a taxi, especially if it’s later in the evening.”
He called on the UK government to take “tangible action” to support the social care and health sector, adding: “They were hit hard during the pandemic and are still in the recovery phase. This support would ease the burden faced by staff and could help with staff retention and recruitment.”
Unison has called for the rate to rise to 59p a mile for social care staff. It calculates total motoring costs have risen by 19 per cent in the last year and 32 per cent since 2011.
NHS staff get paid 56p per mile. The average pump fuel price is currently 174p per litre in the UK, though at some stations it is nearer £2 a litre. The same time last year it was 135p per mile.