By Tony O’Reilly-
Social workers in Northern Ireland have initiated a three-day strike to protest what their union, NIPSA, describes as unsafe staffing levels in their service.
The walkout, taking place from 8-10 May, follows a period of industrial action short of a strike by children and families practitioners at Belfast Health and Social Care Trust last month.
NIPSA has raised concerns about the sustained staffing crisis in family and childcare services across Northern Ireland, with particular emphasis on the Belfast trust.
Chronic understaffing has resulted in excessive caseloads for social workers, leading to stress, illness, and compromised service delivery, according to the union.
The strike involves approximately 40 social workers specializing in child protection and looked-after children’s services.
Last year’s Independent Review of Northern Ireland’s Children’s Social Care Services, led by Professor Ray Jones, highlighted vacancy and absence rates ranging from 26% to 41% in family intervention teams and 21% to 86% in looked-after children’s teams across the five trusts.
The report emphasized the urgent need for action to tackle the workforce crisis in children’s social work.
Progress in addressing these challenges has been hindered by political instability and inadequate funding.
The restoration of devolved government in February 2024 and the health department’s limited budget settlement for 2024-25 have posed further challenges to addressing staffing shortages and improving service provision.
NIPSA has called for caseload limits, career pathways for hard-to-recruit areas, streamlined bureaucracy, and investment in preventive services to resolve the staffing crisis.
Despite last-minute talks with health minister Robin Swann, the union proceeded with strike action after negotiations failed to address members’ concerns adequately.
In response to the strike, the Belfast trust has acknowledged the dedication of social workers while highlighting the impact of staff shortages on service delivery. Efforts are underway to develop safe staffing guidance for services in collaboration with regional organizations and the Department of Health.
Minister Swann has pledged to make improvements to support social workers, emphasizing a program of workforce and service reform. However, he acknowledged that progress would be incremental and contingent on available funding.
NIPSA has ensured that appropriate measures are in place to protect critical services during the strike, with the Belfast trust collaborating to maintain emergency cover for children and families.