Open letter to the Minister - registration fee increase SSSC
SASW Manager Trisha Hall has written to Mr Mark McDonald MSP following comments and requests from our membership, to express our disappointment and to request reconsideration of the amount and the implementation timescale. David Thomson, SASW Committee Chair, has countersigned the letter. The correspondence was cc-ed to Ms Anna Fowlie, CEO of the SSSC, and Mr Alan Baird, Chief Social Work Adviser to the Scottish Government.
The open letter is as follows:
Dear Mr McDonald
RE: Increase of registration fees for social workers, announcement 13 February 2017
I am writing this open letter to you in your capacity as Minister with responsibility for social work services, following representation and comment received about the recent announcement of the decision by Ministers to increase the registration fees of the regulatory body, the Scottish Social Services Council.
We understand that an increase was expected, as fees had remained unchanged since the inception of the SSSC in 2003, but were very disappointed to note the 166% percent increase for qualified social workers, from £30 to £80 per year.
SASW invited comment from our members during the consultation period, and we subsequently submitted our response. This reflected an understanding of some of the suggested changes, but concern about the level of increase. While 50% of respondents to our own short survey accepted an increase, our members told us that the proportionality of the difference in registration fees for different categories of workers was quite inequitable. SASW proposed a logical argument for having fees charged in a sliding scale in direct proportion to earnings, rather than job titles. We also suggested that part time workers and on breaks from the workplace, e.g. on maternity leave, should be considered as eligible for reduction. None of our suggestions were incorporated within the finalised decision.
The increase in registration fees for social workers comes at a time when this small but vital part of the overall social services workforce has seen regular budget cuts leading to a deterioration of terms and conditions, wage freezes, no regular cost of living increases, loss of dedicated workspaces and team support as part of “agile working” changes, travel bans out of area, an inability to be freed up for regular training and CPD, and increased workloads.
Of concern were the various submissions and comments from some of our members which reflected dissatisfaction with the Regulator and how it carries out its duties. SASW is in a regular constructive dialogue with the SSSC, and we are committed to this positive working relationship. This also includes a joint commitment to providing clarity and understanding of the role and remit of the SSSC as opposed to that of a professional association (such as SASW), as we believe this is not always understood. We have found the SSSC and its staff to be helpful and positive partners and will be continuing this conversation.
We know that despite the major challenges there is a great deal of good social work going on within the various areas across Scotland; we see and hear daily evidence of dedicated and passionate social workers who try and make a difference with and for the people they work with.
It would therefore be most conducive if we can assure our membership that their concerns about this significant increase is being taken seriously. We wondered if any consideration could be given to revisiting the final decision, or even the way and/or timescale in which it might be implemented.
SASW and its members would be very happy to assist in convening and contributing to any dialogue which may bring about a more acceptable outcome for our members.
I look forward to your response.
With best wishes
Yours faithfully,
Trisha David
Trisha Hall David Thomson
SW, Country Manager SASW (part of BASW) SW, Chair, SASW Committee