The Department of Health is to end the use of agency social workers by the end of this month with the aim of building a "stable and consistent workforce".
It has said that it is "fully committed" to ended the use of agency social workers by June 30, saying that it is vitally important that social workers services are "built upon consistent and trusting relationships".
The move has been supported by the British Association of Social Workers Northern Ireland, saying that when there is high staff turnover and a reliance on agency social workers on temporary contacts, relationships that are central to providing high quality social work cannot be formed, which impacts negatively on service users.
Read more: 'Staffing crisis' in Northern Irish social work amid call for 'significant change'
Carolyn Ewart, National Director of BASW NI, said: “The need to address the heavy reliance on agency social work staff is a key priority for the British Association of Social Workers Northern Ireland. Where there is high staff turnover and reliance on agency social workers on temporary contracts, the relationships which are central to provision of high-quality social work services cannot be formed. As a result, service users are impacted negatively. BASW NI is pleased the Department of Health has taken decisive action in relation to this issue.
“We would also support the introduction of greater flexibility in employment contracts, including more part-time posts, to meet the needs of a female dominated workforce. This aligns with the findings published this week in the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services report.”
However, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation has said that the ban on agency social workers risks "wrecking" social care services in Northern Ireland and that there is a high likelihood of agency social workers leaving the profession rather than taking up permenant roles withint health trusts.
Kate Shoesmith, REC Deputy Chief Executive, said: “This ‘ban’ on the use of social workers employed by agencies risks wrecking social care in Northern Ireland. The impact is likely fewer social workers in the system overall which will harm morale for those left behind to deal with already bulging caseloads.
"All types of workers, not just those in social care, want to work more flexibly for a range of reasons including childcare or elderly parent related responsibilities. Forcing people to work in ways they do not want will strip an already struggling sector of much needed resource and risk worse care for vulnerable people.
“With just weeks to go until the proposed ban, our members who supply social workers to trusts are shocked and concerned about these plans. We are asking the Department to pause and consult with agencies around how best to work with them to support trusts. An outright ban is short-sighted and impractical given existing worker shortages.
"It is concerning that officials are side-lining recruiters who have long worked in partnership with them by not consulting them about the plans. This is disregarding recruiters’ expertise in workforce planning and ability to build proactive recruitment and retention strategies for short term political gain.
"Let us collaborate to tackle staff shortages and provide value of taxpayers’ money. The lack of a Northern Ireland Assembly means there is less debate and challenge about this change of tack which could lead to immense pressure on existing services already stretched to breaking point.
“It is unrealistic to think agency workers can be banned when they are a fundamental part of dialling services up and down based on need and at core help trusts maintain patient care.
"Most agency staff are experienced workers who have their temporary assignments at trusts continuously extended, working with the same group of vulnerable people. Our members do not come across complaints about the safety of agency staff regularly and agencies are great at retaining workers.”
The Department of Health has said that the majority of agency social workers have applied for full-time contracts and been successful in securing posts and that opportunities for other agency workers to apply remain open.
A DoH spokesperson said: "The Department of Health and HSC Trusts remain fully committed to ending the use of all agency social workers by June 30.
"Ending recruitment agency use in social work will help to build and maintain a stable and consistent social work workforce.
"This is vitally important, as effective social work services are built upon consistent and trusting relationships.
"It is recognised that working for the HSC system has many benefits including job security, a good pension scheme, paid annual and sick leave, life insurance, maternity leave and organisational support for training and career development and progression.
"As of today, the majority of agency social workers have applied for HSC contracts and been successful in securing posts. Opportunities for remaining agency staff to apply remain open as we move towards the 30th June deadline."
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