Union warns Swindon Cabinet members of crisis in emergency social work

The GMB union has written an open letter to members of Swindon Borough Council's Cabinet.

The union, whose members include social workers at the council's Emergency Duty Service (EDS) says there is crisis in the service, which the GMB is blaming on the council’s 'confrontational’ approach. 

However, Deputy Swindon Borough Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Organisational Oversight Cllr Emma Bushell responded that council officers had acted with integrity and professionalism during negotiations with the GMB, and were keen to find a solution to the issues raised so its valued staff could move on from the present situation. 

The union is in dispute with the council over what it terms the removal of the unsocial hours allowance paid to workers on the team, who provide emergency out-of-hours social work support to some of the most vulnerable people in Swindon. 

GMB members had previously been on strike over the contract changes, but say they had to suspend their industrial action on safety grounds, as they felt Swindon had not provided adequate emergency cover.

The union's letter says, in part: "You will recall that I wrote to you in June 2023 to advise you of a serious threat facing the Emergency Duty Service (EDS), which provides out of hours social work support. These staff are employed by Childrens’ Services, but provide emergency mental health services to support adult social care. 

"We warned you that the flawed approach of the pay and grading review was putting the service at risk, as extremely skilled staff would leave. We had also met the council leader, Jim Robbins, and in July we met with the deputy leader, Emma Bushell. 

"GMB sought to bring our concerns to Labour councillors in private, and in good time, so that the problems could be averted without the need for strike action.

"Although SBC have now put a sticking plaster over the issue of the proposed pay cut, no binding assurance has been issued to staff that the additional monies will not be removed in the future, and the method of implementation is not legally robust. Our dispute therefore remains live. 

"The intransigent attitude of council officers and the lack of urgency has led to a steep drop of morale by EDS staff, as we warned you would happen, and two Approved Mental Health Practitioners (AMHPs) have now left the role. It is a statutory obligation to provide AMPH cover on a 24/7 basis, every day of the year. Currently SBC are not in a position to guarantee that. Previously, four of the seven strong team were AMHPs, and when a nonAMPH was on shift, an informal cover arrangement was in place."

Cllr Bushell said in a statement: “Our officers have acted with integrity and professionalism at all times during negotiations with the GMB.

“We have addressed the main issue of pay surrounding this dispute and we are keen to find a solution to the latest points raised by the GMB so our valued staff can move on from this current situation.”

GMB Branch Secretary Andy Newman said: “Our members suspended their strike, even though they have not achieved all their objectives, because they could not in good conscience abandon the service users about which they care so much. But highly skilled workers have other options, and Swindon is in danger of losing staff. 

“This is no longer about money, and we have written to the council because we believe the solution is within reach, but it will require a change in approach to something a lot less confrontational than it is at present. 

“By failing to seek a solution the council is acting to the detriment of clients and service users. We need Swindon Council need to meet us for constructive talks because the service is already struggling after the loss of highly skilled, specialist mental health practitioners."