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Social worker : Salary and conditions

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  1. Job description
  2. Salary and conditions
  3. Entry requirements
  4. Training
  5. Career development
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Case studies

  • Range of typical starting salaries: £23,500 - £30,000 (salary data collected Aug 09).
  • Range of typical salaries in first management roles (with two or three years' experience): £30,000 - £42,000 (salary data collected Aug 09).
  • Typical salary at senior level/with experience (e.g. after 10-15 years in the role): £57,000 (salary data collected Aug 09)
  • There are no national salary scales available, unless you are employed by a local authority or health care trust, but even then variations exist between jobs, employers and regions. Some employers offer 'golden hellos' or enhancements, such as a car user allowance (including car lease schemes) or help with child care.
    Working hours are normally 37 hours per week. In residential settings, regular unsocial hours are normal practice. The work is office based, but with frequent visits to service users.
  • The sector in which you work and the structure of your organisation will affect how you operate. You may be the main professional working with the client but, increasingly, you will be part of a multidisciplinary team, working alongside other professionals such as occupational and speech therapists, and psychiatric or community nurses.
  • Part-time work or job shares and career breaks are commonly possible.
  • There is currently a high percentage of women in lower grade posts and a high percentage of men in senior positions. However, this varies according to specialism.
  • Jobs are available in most areas, although availability depends on the size of the local population and the particular social work specialism.
  • There is currently a shortage of qualified social workers, especially in London and the South East of England.
  • The nature of social work practice can be both emotionally rewarding and demanding. Working conditions are often under-resourced and heavy caseloads are common.
  • Travel within a working day is frequent. Absence from home at night is occasional. Overseas work or travel is uncommon, although opportunities to work in developing countries do exist, e.g. with organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)  and with families in the armed forces through theSoldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)
 
AGCAS
Written by Jonathan Bainbridge, Caroline Kilby and Marlene Simms, Thames Valley University
Date: 
September 2009
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